# How to generate random data, that's from Beta distribution with specific density function in R?

So, considering that $$\theta = 2$$ and density function is $$f(x) = \theta x^{\theta - 1}, 0 and $$0$$ anywhere else, how do I generate random data from this particular distribution? Here is the code I tried:

x <- rbeta(10000, 1, 2)
hist(x)
curve(dbeta(x, 1, 2), add = TRUE)


First, I don't know if I can generate the data using functon rbeta as my density function is not exactly like ordinary Beta distribution? Then, when I try to add theoretical distribution's curve, it doesn't appear at all in the region of the histogram, and if I plot it separately it is just a straight line nut a skewed curve like it should be. What am doing wrong?

To obtain the function $$f(x) = \theta x^{\theta - 1}$$ you need to use rbeta( , 2, 1), not rbeta( , 1, 2) (to see why look into ?rbeta).

density_fun <- function(x,theta=2){
theta * x^(theta-1)
}

par(mfrow=c(1,2))
x <- rbeta(10000, 2, 1)
hist(x, freq=F, col="grey", border="white",main="rbeta(10000, 2, 1)", xlab="x", ylab="f(x)")
curve(dbeta(x, 2, 1), add = TRUE,lwd=2)

x = seq(0, 1, length.out=500)
plot(x,density_fun(x),col="red", type="l",xlab="x", ylab="f(x)", main=expression(paste(f(x) == theta * x^(theta-1),", with ",theta==2)),lwd=2)


Result: Note that you need to plot the histogram using the argument freq=F to plot bars on a probability density scale

As you can see, the function is indeed a straight line; it should not be a curve since for $$\theta=2$$ you have that $$f(x) = 2 x^{2 - 1} = 2x$$

• Thank you for the insightful reply, just wanted to ask, if I were to use the density_fun as an argument for a curve function, would that still be considered a theoretical density line, or is it better to use rbeta as it doesn't take into the consideration the density function given? I know this probably is dumb, but I just want to make sure. – use1883 Apr 9 at 17:03
• In this case they are equivalent; density_fun is a proper density function since its integral (over the support [0,1]) is 1. – matteo Apr 10 at 9:15