Setting variables to random numbers for pgfplots

Question

In the declare function scope, I am trying to set randomized numbers to variables, as shown in the code:

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage{pgfplots}
\usepackage{float}
\pgfplotsset{compat=1.17}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{shapes, arrows.meta, automata, positioning, matrix, calc}
\usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry} 
\usepackage{caption}
\usepackage{siunitx}
\begin{document}    
    \begin{figure}[H]
        \centering
        \captionsetup{skip = 5pt} %default is 10pt; I am doing this to make use of pages more efficient; if I didn't do this, then some figures would go onto the next page, and leave a lot of space at the end of the current page
        \pgfplotsset{grid style={dashed,gray}} %Both grids for this figure ONLY
        \definecolor{mycolor1}{rgb}{0.00000,0.44700,0.74100}%
        \definecolor{mycolor2}{rgb}{0.85000,0.32500,0.09800}%
        \definecolor{mycolor3}{rgb}{0.92900,0.69400,0.12500}%
        \begin{tikzpicture}[trim axis left, trim axis right, 
        declare function = {
            R1Nom = 20566; 
            R2Nom = R1Nom; 
            R3Nom = 8227; 
            LNom = 1;
            CNom = 0.1*10^{-6};
            \pgfmathsetseed{2}%Setting the seed                         
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            R1Rand1 = R1Nom*\pgfmathresult;
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            R2Rand1 = R2Nom*\pgfmathresult;
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            R3Rand1 = R3Nom*\pgfmathresult;
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            LRand1 = LNom*\pgfmathresult;
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            CRand1 = CNom*\pgfmathresult;
            RthRand1 = R1Rand1*R2Rand1/(R1Rand1 + R2Rand1);
            KRand1 = R3Rand1*R2Rand1/((R1Rand1 + R2Rand1)*(R3Rand1 + RthRand1));
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            R1Rand2 = R1Nom*\pgfmathresult;
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            R2Rand2 = R2Nom*\pgfmathresult;
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            R3Rand2 = R3Nom*\pgfmathresult;
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            LRand2 = LNom*\pgfmathresult;
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            CRand2 = CNom*\pgfmathresult;
            RthRand2 = R1Rand2*R2Rand2/(R1Rand2 + R2Rand2);
            KRand2 = R3Rand2*R2Rand2/((R1Rand2 + R2Rand2)*(R3Rand2 + RthRand2));
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            R1Rand3 = R1Nom*\pgfmathresult;
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            R2Rand3 = R2Nom*\pgfmathresult;
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            R3Rand3 = R3Nom*\pgfmathresult;
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            LRand3 = LNom*\pgfmathresult;
            \pgfmathparse{0.8 + 0.4*rnd}
            CRand3 = CNom*\pgfmathresult;
            RthRand3 = R1Rand3*R2Rand3/(R1Rand3 + R2Rand3);
            KRand3 = R3Rand3*R2Rand3/((R1Rand3 + R2Rand3)*(R3Rand3 + RthRand3));
        }
        ]
        \begin{semilogxaxis}[
        width=12cm,
        height=12cm,
        %scale only axis, this command allows dimension of the axes to match up with the specified dimensions i.e. width and height; if not placed there, then the bounding box (which include tick marks, labels, etc) will be set to those dimensions
        xlabel={$\omega$ ($\SI[per-mode = symbol]{}{\radian\per\second}$)},
        ylabel={Ampltitude ($\SI{}{\decibel}$)},
        grid=both,
        xmin = 10^0, xmax=10^6,
        ymin = -110, ymax=-10,
        samples=1000]
        \addplot [mycolor1, thick, domain = 1:10^6] {20*log10(KRand1/sqrt((1 - x^2*(LRand1*CRand1*R3Rand1/(R3Rand1 + RthRand1)))^2 + x^2*(LRand1 + CRand1*R3Rand1*RthRand1)^2/(R3Rand1 + RthRand1)^2))};
        \addplot [mycolor2, thick, domain = 1:10^6] {20*log10(KRand2/sqrt((1 - x^2*(LRand2*CRand2*R3Rand2/(R3Rand2 + RthRand2)))^2 + x^2*(LRand2 + CRand2*R3Rand2*RthRand2)^2/(R3Rand2 + RthRand2)^2))};
        \addplot [mycolor3, thick, domain = 1:10^6] {20*log10(KRand3/sqrt((1 - x^2*(LRand3*CRand3*R3Rand3/(R3Rand3 + RthRand3)))^2 + x^2*(LRand3 + CRand3*R3Rand3*RthRand3)^2/(R3Rand3 + RthRand3)^2))};
        \end{semilogxaxis}
        \end{tikzpicture}
        \caption{This plot.}
    \end{figure}
\end{document}

However, I am getting an error relating to pgfmath saying: Package PGF Math Error: Unknown operator =' or =@' (in '='). ]

What is the proper way of using a random number generator in declare function?

score 2 · Answer 1 · 2020-06-18T04:52:25.770

You cannot put \pgfmathparse into declare function. Moreover, CNom = 0.1*10^{-6}; is incorrect, but e.g. CNom = 0.1*10^(-6); works. You probably want to use one constant random per variable, so the perhaps easiest way is to store those in macros.

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage{pgfplots}
\usepackage{float}
\pgfplotsset{compat=1.17}
\usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry} 
\usepackage{caption}
\usepackage{siunitx}
\begin{document}    
    \begin{figure}[H]
        \centering
        \captionsetup{skip = 5pt} %default is 10pt; I am doing this to make use of pages more efficient; if I didn't do this, then some figures would go onto the next page, and leave a lot of space at the end of the current page
        \pgfplotsset{grid style={dashed,gray}} %Both grids for this figure ONLY
        \definecolor{mycolor1}{rgb}{0.00000,0.44700,0.74100}%
        \definecolor{mycolor2}{rgb}{0.85000,0.32500,0.09800}%
        \definecolor{mycolor3}{rgb}{0.92900,0.69400,0.12500}%
        \begin{tikzpicture}[trim axis left, trim axis right,
            declare function={myrnd=0.8 + 0.4*rnd;}]
        \pgfmathsetseed{2}%Setting the seed                     
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndA}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndB}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndC}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndD}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndE}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndF}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndG}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndH}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndI}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndJ}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndK}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndL}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndM}{myrnd}
        \pgfmathsetmacro{\rndN}{myrnd}
        \begin{semilogxaxis}[ declare function = {
            R1Nom = 20566; 
            R2Nom = R1Nom; 
            R3Nom = 8227; 
            LNom = 1;
            CNom = 0.1*10^(-6);
            R1Rand1 = R1Nom*\rndA;
            R2Rand1 = R2Nom*\rndB;
            R3Rand1 = R3Nom*\rndC;
            LRand1 = LNom*\rndD;
            CRand1 = CNom*\rndE;
            RthRand1 = R1Rand1*R2Rand1/(R1Rand1 + R2Rand1);
            KRand1 = R3Rand1*R2Rand1/((R1Rand1 + R2Rand1)*(R3Rand1 + RthRand1));
            R1Rand2 = R1Nom*\rndF;
            R2Rand2 = R2Nom*\rndF;
            R3Rand2 = R3Nom*\rndG;
            LRand2 = LNom*\rndH;
            CRand2 = CNom*\rndI;
            RthRand2 = R1Rand2*R2Rand2/(R1Rand2 + R2Rand2);
            KRand2 = R3Rand2*R2Rand2/((R1Rand2 + R2Rand2)*(R3Rand2 + RthRand2));
            R1Rand3 = R1Nom*\rndJ;
            R2Rand3 = R2Nom*\rndK;
            R3Rand3 = R3Nom*\rndL;
            LRand3 = LNom*\rndM;
            CRand3 = CNom*\rndN;
            RthRand3 = R1Rand3*R2Rand3/(R1Rand3 + R2Rand3);
            KRand3 = R3Rand3*R2Rand3/((R1Rand3 + R2Rand3)*(R3Rand3 + RthRand3));
        },
        width=12cm,
        height=12cm,
        %scale only axis, this command allows dimension of the axes to match up with the specified dimensions i.e. width and height; if not placed there, then the bounding box (which include tick marks, labels, etc) will be set to those dimensions
        xlabel={$\omega$ ($\SI[per-mode = symbol]{}{\radian\per\second}$)},
        ylabel={Ampltitude ($\SI{}{\decibel}$)},
        grid=both,
        xmin = 10^0, xmax=10^6,
        ymin = -110, ymax=-10,
        samples=101]
        \addplot [mycolor1, thick, domain = 1:10^6] {20*log10(KRand1/sqrt((1 - x^2*(LRand1*CRand1*R3Rand1/(R3Rand1 + RthRand1)))^2 + x^2*(LRand1 + CRand1*R3Rand1*RthRand1)^2/(R3Rand1 + RthRand1)^2))};
        \addplot [mycolor2, thick, domain = 1:10^6] {20*log10(KRand2/sqrt((1 - x^2*(LRand2*CRand2*R3Rand2/(R3Rand2 + RthRand2)))^2 + x^2*(LRand2 + CRand2*R3Rand2*RthRand2)^2/(R3Rand2 + RthRand2)^2))};
        \addplot [mycolor3, thick, domain = 1:10^6] {20*log10(KRand3/sqrt((1 - x^2*(LRand3*CRand3*R3Rand3/(R3Rand3 + RthRand3)))^2 + x^2*(LRand3 + CRand3*R3Rand3*RthRand3)^2/(R3Rand3 + RthRand3)^2))};
        \end{semilogxaxis}
        \end{tikzpicture}
        \caption{This plot.}
    \end{figure}
\end{document}

You can shorten this using a \loop.

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage{pgfplots}
\usepackage{float}
\pgfplotsset{compat=1.17}
\usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry} 
\usepackage{caption}
\usepackage{siunitx}
\newcounter{iloop}
\begin{document}    
    \begin{figure}[H]
        \centering
        \captionsetup{skip = 5pt} %default is 10pt; I am doing this to make use of pages more efficient; if I didn't do this, then some figures would go onto the next page, and leave a lot of space at the end of the current page
        \pgfplotsset{grid style={dashed,gray}} %Both grids for this figure ONLY
        \definecolor{mycolor1}{rgb}{0.00000,0.44700,0.74100}%
        \definecolor{mycolor2}{rgb}{0.85000,0.32500,0.09800}%
        \definecolor{mycolor3}{rgb}{0.92900,0.69400,0.12500}%
        \begin{tikzpicture}[trim axis left, trim axis right,
            declare function={myrnd=0.8 + 0.4*rnd;}]
        \pgfmathsetseed{2}%Setting the seed 
        \setcounter{iloop}{0}
        \loop                   
         \stepcounter{iloop}
         \pgfmathparse{myrnd}
         \expandafter\edef\csname rnd\Alph{iloop}\endcsname{\pgfmathresult}
         \ifnum\value{iloop}<14
        \repeat
        \begin{semilogxaxis}[ declare function = {
            R1Nom = 20566; 
            R2Nom = R1Nom; 
            R3Nom = 8227; 
            LNom = 1;
            CNom = 0.1*10^(-6);
            R1Rand1 = R1Nom*\rndA;
            R2Rand1 = R2Nom*\rndB;
            R3Rand1 = R3Nom*\rndC;
            LRand1 = LNom*\rndD;
            CRand1 = CNom*\rndE;
            RthRand1 = R1Rand1*R2Rand1/(R1Rand1 + R2Rand1);
            KRand1 = R3Rand1*R2Rand1/((R1Rand1 + R2Rand1)*(R3Rand1 + RthRand1));
            R1Rand2 = R1Nom*\rndF;
            R2Rand2 = R2Nom*\rndF;
            R3Rand2 = R3Nom*\rndG;
            LRand2 = LNom*\rndH;
            CRand2 = CNom*\rndI;
            RthRand2 = R1Rand2*R2Rand2/(R1Rand2 + R2Rand2);
            KRand2 = R3Rand2*R2Rand2/((R1Rand2 + R2Rand2)*(R3Rand2 + RthRand2));
            R1Rand3 = R1Nom*\rndJ;
            R2Rand3 = R2Nom*\rndK;
            R3Rand3 = R3Nom*\rndL;
            LRand3 = LNom*\rndM;
            CRand3 = CNom*\rndN;
            RthRand3 = R1Rand3*R2Rand3/(R1Rand3 + R2Rand3);
            KRand3 = R3Rand3*R2Rand3/((R1Rand3 + R2Rand3)*(R3Rand3 + RthRand3));
        },
        width=12cm,
        height=12cm,
        %scale only axis, this command allows dimension of the axes to match up with the specified dimensions i.e. width and height; if not placed there, then the bounding box (which include tick marks, labels, etc) will be set to those dimensions
        xlabel={$\omega$ ($\SI[per-mode = symbol]{}{\radian\per\second}$)},
        ylabel={Ampltitude ($\SI{}{\decibel}$)},
        grid=both,
        xmin = 10^0, xmax=10^6,
        ymin = -110, ymax=-10,
        samples=101]
        \addplot [mycolor1, thick, domain = 1:10^6] {20*log10(KRand1/sqrt((1 - x^2*(LRand1*CRand1*R3Rand1/(R3Rand1 + RthRand1)))^2 + x^2*(LRand1 + CRand1*R3Rand1*RthRand1)^2/(R3Rand1 + RthRand1)^2))};
        \addplot [mycolor2, thick, domain = 1:10^6] {20*log10(KRand2/sqrt((1 - x^2*(LRand2*CRand2*R3Rand2/(R3Rand2 + RthRand2)))^2 + x^2*(LRand2 + CRand2*R3Rand2*RthRand2)^2/(R3Rand2 + RthRand2)^2))};
        \addplot [mycolor3, thick, domain = 1:10^6] {20*log10(KRand3/sqrt((1 - x^2*(LRand3*CRand3*R3Rand3/(R3Rand3 + RthRand3)))^2 + x^2*(LRand3 + CRand3*R3Rand3*RthRand3)^2/(R3Rand3 + RthRand3)^2))};
        \end{semilogxaxis}
        \end{tikzpicture}
        \caption{This plot.}
    \end{figure}
\end{document}

Hmmm interesting, I didn’t know about not using pgfmathparse in the declare function scope, and I must have been silly in the exponent part. Thank you so much! — Superman, Jun 18 '20 at 04:49
On a side note, as I see, calling myrnd generates a different random number each time. So far, I have used declare function for calling constants. Are there other examples of using declare function and getting different things besides rnd e.g. passing in parameters like x and returning exp(x)? — Superman, Jun 18 '20 at 04:53
By the way, I tried to think of a loop solution, but wasn’t sure on how to code it up. Thank you for that solution! — Superman, Jun 18 '20 at 04:54
@Superman Yes, you can do declare function={f(\x)=exp(\x);} and then plot f(x) (or f(x)). The function can have up to nine variables. (More variables are possible but one has to do that differently.) — , Jun 18 '20 at 04:56
Hmmmm interesting, I will try that out if I need to, and will ask about this if I run into problems. Thanks again! — Superman, Jun 18 '20 at 04:57
So looking at the \loop scope, \repeat just goes back to \loop, if I am right. Also, what does \expandafter\edef\csname ...\endcsname{...} do? — Superman, Jun 18 '20 at 05:00
@Superman This creates macros \rndA, \rndB and so on. We need first to "bake" the macro and then to use \edef, hence \expandafter. — , Jun 18 '20 at 05:03
When you say "bake" the macro, don't you mean create it? Also, can you give me a break down on how \expandafter, \edef \csname, and \endcsname work on an "individual" level? I have seen \csname before, but I think in a different context. — Superman, Jun 18 '20 at 05:05
@Superman Yes, "bake" means create. I think this is a nice resource for that. — , Jun 18 '20 at 05:09

Setting variables to random numbers for pgfplots

1 Answers1