def gaussian_distribution(mean, stdev, num_pts=50):
    """ get an x and y numpy.ndarray that spans the +/- 4
    standard deviation range of a gaussian distribution with
    a given mean and standard deviation. useful for plotting

    Parameters
    ----------
    mean : float
        the mean of the distribution
    stdev : float
        the standard deviation of the distribution
    num_pts : int
        the number of points in the returned ndarrays.
        Default is 50

    Returns
    -------
    x : numpy.ndarray
        the x-values of the distribution
    y : numpy.ndarray
        the y-values of the distribution

    """
    warnings.warn("pyemu.helpers.gaussian_distribution() has moved to plot_utils",PyemuWarning)
    from pyemu import plot_utils
    return plot_utils.gaussian_distribution(mean=mean,stdev=stdev,num_pts=num_pts)
get an x and y numpy.ndarray that spans the +/- 4
    standard deviation range of a gaussian distribution with
    a given mean and standard deviation. useful for plotting

    Parameters
    ----------
    mean : float
        the mean of the distribution
    stdev : float
        the standard deviation of the distribution
    num_pts : int
        the number of points in the returned ndarrays.
        Default is 50

    Returns
    -------
    x : numpy.ndarray
        the x-values of the distribution
    y : numpy.ndarray
        the y-values of the distribution