# Replicability of RandomVariate within a function?

I have a rather basic question but can't figure out a foolproof answer. In the following code, I build a function which returns the mean difference between successive elements of a vector created from j random variates from an exponential distribution:

fun2[j_] :=
Module[{x = RandomVariate[ExponentialDistribution[1/25], j]},
Mean[Table[Abs[x[[i + 1]] - x[[i]]], {i, Length[x] - 1}]]]


Will the use of the x call to RandomVariate create an immutable object, i.e. so that x[[i + 1]] and x[[i]] reference the same instance of the distribution?

Thanks a lot for any help.

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Any reason you are avoiding Mean[Abs@Differences[x]]? That seems a lot simpler here. Not to mention, it will be much faster. –  Andy Ross May 19 at 12:47

Yes. Notice that performing the computation outside of the Module produces the same result.

SeedRandom[1];
fun2[10]

(* 30.5828 *)

SeedRandom[1];
x = RandomVariate[ExponentialDistribution[1/25], 10];
Mean[Abs[Differences[x]]]

(* 30.5828 *)


In order to get the undesired behavior you would use SetDelayed as such..

fun3[j_] :=
Module[{x := RandomVariate[ExponentialDistribution[1/25], j]},
Mean[Table[Abs[x[[i + 1]] - x[[i]]], {i, Length[x] - 1}]]]


This gives a totally different result.

SeedRandom[1];
fun3[10]

(* 34.018 *)

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