Simulations with random numbers
The tennis and soccer league simulations were expressed in terms of categorical random variables — we generated a series of wins, losses and draws, based on probabilities that were built into our models.
Other models must be expressed in terms of numerical random variables that are characterised by probability distributions. Running simulations of these models therefore involves generating random values for these numerical variables from their probability distribution.
(A little more explanation about generating numerical random values will be given later.)
We illustrate using a different sport, golf.