 align="left">Note</th>
</tr>
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">
<p>
            <span class="bold"><strong>Random Variates and Distribution Parameters</strong></span>
          </p>
<p>
            The concept of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_variable" target="_top">random
            variable</a> is closely linked to the term <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_variate" target="_top">random
            variate</a>: a random variate is a particular value (outcome) of
            a