VB challenge/ help MONTE CARLO INTEGRATION - vb.net

Im trying to create Monte-Carlo simulation that can be used to derive estimates for integration problems (summing up the area under
a curve). Have no idea what to do now and i am stuck
"to solve this problem we generate a number (say n) of random number pairs for x and y between 0 and 1, for each pair we see if the point (x,y) falls above or below the line. We count the number of times this happens (say c). The area under the curve is computed as c/n"
Really confused please help thank you
Function MonteCarlo()
Dim a As Integer
Dim b As Integer
Dim x As Double
Dim func As Double
Dim total As Double
Dim result As Double
Dim j As Integer
Dim N As Integer
Console.WriteLine("Enter a")
a = Console.ReadLine()
Console.WriteLine("Enter b")
b = Console.ReadLine()
Console.WriteLine("Enter n")
N = Console.ReadLine()
For j = 1 To N
'Generate a new number between a and b
x = (b - a) * Rnd()
'Evaluate function at new number
func = (x ^ 2) + (2 * x) + 1
'Add to previous value
total = total + func
Next j
result = (total / N) * (b - a)
Console.WriteLine(result)
Console.ReadLine()
Return result
End Function

You are using the rejection method for MC area under the curve.
Do this:
Divide the range of x into, say, 100 equally-spaced, non-overlapping bins.
For your function y = f(x) = (x ^ 2) + (2 * x) + 1, generate e.g. 10,000 values of y for 10,000 values of x = (b - a) * Rnd().
Count the number of y-values in each bin, and divide by 10,000 to get a "bin probability." --> p(x).
Next, the proper way to randomly simulate your function is to use the rejection method, which goes as follows:
4a. Draw a random x-value using x = (b - a) * Rnd()
4b. Draw a random uniform U(0,1). If U(0,1) is less than p(x) add a count to the bin.
4c. Continue steps 4a-4b 10000 times.
You will now be able to simulate your y=f(x) function using the rejection method.
Overall, you need to master these approaches before you do what you want since it sounds like you have little experience in bin counts, simulation, etc. Area under the curve is always one using this approach, so just be creative for integrating using MC.
Look at some good textbooks on MC integration.

Related

Converting an equation to code

I have an equation that can be used to find the gun elevation for artillery, using the range, muzzle velocity and change in altitude in a game called Arma 3. The equation looks like this:
With g being the acceleration due to gravity (9.80665), V being the muzzle velocity, X being the range and Y being the change in altitude (called DAlt in my code).
I'm trying to convert it to a line of code so that I can make a program to calculate the elevation based on given coordinates. However I'm having trouble with it. I currently have this:
If rdoLow.Checked = True Then
Elevation = Math.Atan(((Velocity ^ 2) - (Math.Sqrt((Velocity ^ 4) - (G) * (G * (Range ^ 2) + (2 * DAlt * (Velocity ^ 2)))))) / G * Range)
Else
Elevation = Math.Atan(((Velocity ^ 2) + (Math.Sqrt((Velocity ^ 4) - (G) * (G * (Range ^ 2) + 2 * DAlt * (Velocity ^ 2))))) / G * Range)
End If
Which isn't particularly nice looking but as far as I can tell, it should work. However when I put in the values that the video I got the equation from used, I got a different answer. So there must be something wrong with my equation.
I've tried breaking it in to various parts as separate variables and calculating them, then using those variables in the overall equation, and that still didn't work and gave me an answer that was wrong in another way.
So I'm currently at a loss on how to fix it, starting to wonder if the way that vb handles long equations is different or something.
Any help is much appreciated.
You haven't given any sample data, so I can't verify that this gives the correct answer, but the last part of your equation is missing some parentheses.
Elevation = Math.Atan(((Velocity ^ 2) + Math.Sqrt((Velocity ^ 4) - (G * ((G * (Range ^ 2)) + (2 * DAlt * (Velocity ^ 2)))))) / (G * Range))
Note the parenthesis around the last G * Range.
Multiplication and division have equal precedence, so they are evaluated from left-to-right. See Operator Precedence in Visual Basic.
You were dividing everything by G, then multiplying the result by Range, whereas you needed to multiply G by Range, then divide everything by the result of that.
You can see the difference in this simple example:
Console.WriteLine(3 / 4 * 5) ' Prints 3.75
Console.WriteLine(3 / (4 * 5)) ' Prints 0.15
Out of curiosity I tried the problem. In order to have test data I found this web site, Range Tables For Mortars. I tested with the '82mm Mortar - Far' that has an initial velocity of 200 m/s. One problem I had, and don't know if I fixed it correctly, was that the first part of the equation was returning negative numbers... I also solved for the ±. To test I created a form with a button to perform the calculation, a textbox to enter the distance, and two labels to show the angles. This is what I came up with.
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
'A - launch angle
'Target
' r - range
' y - altitude
'g - gravity 9.80665 m/s^2
'v - launch speed e.g. 50 m/s
'
'
'Formula
'from - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trajectory_of_a_projectile#Angle_required_to_hit_coordinate_.28x.2Cy.29
'in parts
'parts - px
' p1 = sqrt( v^4 - g * (g * r^2 + 2 * y * v^2) )
' p2 = v^2 ± p1 note plus / minus
' p3 = p2 / g * r
'
' A = arctan(p3)
Dim Ap, Am, r, y As Double
Dim g As Double = 9.80665
Dim v As Double
Dim p1, p2p, p2m, p3p, p3m As Double
If Not Double.TryParse(TextBox1.Text, r) Then Exit Sub
y = 0
v = 200 '82mm Mortar - Far velocity
p1 = v ^ 4 - g * (g * r ^ 2 + 2 * y * v ^ 2)
If p1 < 0 Then
Debug.WriteLine(p1)
p1 = Math.Abs(p1) 'square root does not like negative numbers
End If
p1 = Math.Sqrt(p1)
'plus / minus
p2p = v ^ 2 + p1
p2m = v ^ 2 - p1
p3p = p2p / (g * r)
p3m = p2m / (g * r)
Const radiansToDegrees As Double = 180 / Math.PI
Ap = Math.Atan(p3p) * radiansToDegrees
Am = Math.Atan(p3m) * radiansToDegrees
Label1.Text = Ap.ToString("n3")
Label2.Text = Am.ToString("n3")
End Sub
Using the web site to verify the calculations the code seem correct.
Writing long formulas in a bunch of nested parentheses serves no purpose, unless you are going for confusion.

When does floating-point rounding-errors occur? [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
Is floating point math broken?
(31 answers)
Closed 7 years ago.
As I was debugging my VBA code, I came across this weird phenomenon:
This loop
Dim x,y as Double
x = 0.7
y = 0.1
For x = x - y To x + y Step y
Next x
runs only twice!
I tried many variations of this code to nail down the problem, and here is what I came up with:
Replacing the loop boundaries with simple numbers (0.6 to 0.8) - helped.
Replacing variables with numbers (all the combinations) - didn't help.
Replacing the for-loop with do while/until loops - helped.
Replacing the values of x and y (y=0.01, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 - helped. 0.2, 0.6 -didn't help. x=1, 2 ,3 helped. x=4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 - didn't help.
Converting the Double to Decimal with CDec() - helped.
Using the Currency data type instead of Double - helped.
So what we have here is a floating-point rounding-error that happens on mysterious conditions.
What I'm trying to find out is what are those conditions, so we can avoid them.
Who will unveil this mystery?
(Pardon my English, it's not my mother tongue).
GD Falcon,
Generally in solving a For...Next loop it would not be advisable to use 'double' or 'decimal' or 'currency' variables as they provide a level of uncertainty in their accuracy, it's this level of inaccuracy that is wrecking havoc on your code as the actual stop parameter (when x-y, plus (n x y) = x+y) is, in terms of absolutes, an insolvable equation unless you limit the number of decimals it uses.
It is generally considered better practice to use integers (or long) variables in a For...Next loop as their outcome is more certain.
See also below post:
How to make For loop work with non integers
If you want it to run succesfully and iterate 3 times (as I expect you want)
Try like below:
Dim x, y As Double
x = 0.7
y = 0.1
For x = Round(x - y, 1) To Round(x + y, 1) Step Round(y, 1)
Debug.Print x
Next x
Again, it is better not to use Doubles in this particular way to begin with but if you must you would have to limit the number of decimals they calculate with or set a more vague end point (i.e. x > y, rather than x = y)
The coding you use implies that you wish to test some value x against a tolerance level of y.
Assuming this is correct it would imply testing 3 times where;
test_1: x = x - y
test_2: x = x
test_3: x = x + y
The below code would do the same but it would have a better defined scope.
Dim i As Integer
Dim x, y, w As Double
x = 0.7
y = 0.1
For i = -1 To 1 Step 1
w = x + (i * y)
Debug.Print w
Next i
Good luck !

Random Number Generation to Memory from a Distribution using VBA

I want to generate random numbers from a selected distribution in VBA (Excel 2007).
I'm currently using the Analysis Toolpak with the following code:
Application.Run "ATPVBAEN.XLAM!Random", "", A, B, C, D, E, F
Where
A = how many variables that are to be randomly generated
B = number of random numbers generated per variable
C = number corresponding to a distribution
1= Uniform
2= Normal
3= Bernoulli
4= Binomial
5= Poisson
6= Patterned
7= Discrete
D = random number seed
E = parameter of distribution (mu, lambda, etc.) depends on choice for C
(F) = additional parameter of distribution (sigma, etc.) depends on choice for C
But I want to have the random numbers be generated into an array, and NOT onto a sheet.
I understand that where the "" is designates where the random numbers should be printed to, but I don't know the syntax for assigning the random numbers to an array, or some other form of memory storage instead of to a sheet.
I've tried following the syntax discussed at this Analysis Toolpak site, but have had no success.
I realize that VBA is not the ideal place to generate random numbers, but I need to do this in VBA. Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!
Using the inbuilt functions is the key. There is a corresponding version for each of these functions but Poisson. In my presented solution I am using an algorithm presented by Knuth to generate a random number from the Poisson Distribution.
For Discrete or Patterned you obviously have to write your custom algorithm.
Regarding the seed you can place a Randomize [seed] before filling your array.
Function RandomNumber(distribution As Integer, Optional param1 = 0, Optional param2 = 0)
Select Case distribution
Case 1 'Uniform
RandomNumber = Rnd()
Case 2 'Normal
RandomNumber = Application.WorksheetFunction.NormInv(Rnd(), param1, param2)
Case 3 'Bernoulli
RandomNumber = IIf(Rnd() > param1, 1, 0)
Case 4 'Binomial
RandomNumber = Application.WorksheetFunction.Binom_Inv(param1, param2, Rnd())
Case 5 'Poisson
RandomNumber = RandomPoisson(param1)
Case 6 'Patterned
RandomNumber = 0
Case 7 'Discrete
RandomNumber = 0
End Select
End Function
Function RandomPoisson(ByVal lambda As Integer) 'Algorithm by Knuth
l = Exp(-lambda)
k = 0
p = 1
Do
k = k + 1
p = p * Rnd()
Loop While p > l
RandomPoisson = k - 1
End Function
Why not use the inbuilt functions?
Uniform = rnd
Normal = WorksheetFunction.NormInv
Bernoulli = iif(rnd()<p,0,1)
Binomial = WorksheetFunction.Binomdist
Poisson = WorksheetFunction.poisson
Patterned = for ... next
Discrete =
-
select case rnd()
case <0.1
'choice 1
case 0.1 to 0.4
'choice 2
case >0.4
'choice 3
end select

.NET - How to generate random numbers in a range with a certain step size?

I'd like to generate random numbers in a range (say between 0 and 1) - but with a certain step size (say 0.05).
There's a python function that does exactly that:
random.randrange ( [start,] stop [,step] )
So my problem is not how to generate random numbers in a range - instead I need a way to do this with a certain step size.
How can this be done in .NET?
You could generate a random integer between 0 and 20 and divide the result by 20
Dim rnd = New Random()
Dim nextValue = rnd.Next(21) / 20
This will give you a random number between 0 and 1 (inclusive) in 0.05 increments
You can try something like that:
Dim objRandom As New System.Random
Label1.Text = Math.Round(objRandom.NextDouble() * 2, 1) / 2
So you create a random double and you round it to one digit (example: 0.8).
Then you divided it with 2 and you get what you want

I need some help on designing a program that will perform a minimization using VBA Excel

How do I use Excel VBA to find the minimum value of an equation?
For example, if I have the equation y = 2x^2 + 14, and I want to make a loop that will slowly increase/decrease the value of x until it can find the smallest value possible for y, and then let me know what the corresponding value of x is, how would I go about doing that?
Is there a method that would work for much more complicated equations?
Thank you for your help!
Edit: more details
I'm trying to design a program that will find a certain constant needed to graph a nuclear decay. This constant is a part of an equation that gets me a calculated decay. I'm comparing this calculated decay against a measured decay. However, the constant changes very slightly as the decay happens, which means I have to use something called a residual-square to find the best constant to use that will fit the entire decay best to make my calculated decay as accurate as possible.
It works by doing (Measured Decay - Calculated Decay) ^2
You do that for the decay at several times, and add them all up. What I need my program to do is to slowly increase and decrease this constant until I can find a minimum value for the value I get when I add up the residual-squared results for all the times using this decay. The residual-squared that has the smallest value has the value of the constant that I want.
I already drafted a program that does all the calculations and such. I'm just not sure how to find this minimum value. I'm sure if a method works for something like y = x^2 + 1, I can adapt it to work for my needs.
Test the output while looping to look for the smallest output result.
Here's an Example:
Sub FormulaLoop()
Dim x As Double
Dim y As Double
Dim yBest As Double
x = 1
y = (x ^ 2) + 14
yBest = y
For x = 2 To 100
y = (x ^ 2) + 14
If y < yBest Then
yBest = y
End If
Next x
MsgBox "The smallest output of y was: " & yBest
End Sub
If you want to loop through all the possibilities of two variables that make up x then I'd recommend looping in this format:
Sub FormulaLoop_v2()
Dim MeasuredDecay As Double
Dim CalculatedDecay As Double
Dim y As Double
Dim yBest As Double
MeasuredDecay = 1
CalculatedDecay = 1
y = ((MeasuredDecay - CalculatedDecay) ^ 2) + 14
yBest = y
For MeasuredDecay = 2 To 100
For CalculatedDecay = 2 To 100
y = ((MeasuredDecay - CalculatedDecay) ^ 2) + 14
If y < yBest Then
yBest = y
End If
Next CalculatedDecay
Next MeasuredDecay
MsgBox "The smallest output of y was: " & yBest
End Sub