NumPy random numbers

An important part of any simulation is the ability to generate random numbers. For this purpose, NumPy provides various routines in the submodule random. It uses a particular algorithm, called the Mersenne Twister, to generate pseudorandom numbers.

First, we need to define a seed that makes the random numbers predictable. When the value is reset, the same numbers will appear every time. If we do not assign the seed, NumPy automatically selects a random seed value based on the system's random number generator device or on the clock:

>>> np.random.seed(20)

An array of random numbers in the [0.0, 1.0] interval can be generated as follows:

>>> np.random.rand(5)
array([0.5881308, 0.89771373, 0.89153073, 0.81583748, 
         0.03588959])
>>> np.random.rand(5)
array([0.69175758, 0.37868094, 0.51851095, 0.65795147,  
       0.19385022])

>>> np.random.seed(20)    # reset seed number
>>> np.random.rand(5)
array([0.5881308, 0.89771373...