Re: random numbers?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg46122] Re: [mg46110] random numbers?
- From: "Sseziwa Mukasa,,(978) 536-2359" <mukasa at jeol.com>
- Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2004 04:02:03 -0500 (EST)
- References: <200402060915.EAA19284@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
On Feb 6, 2004, at 4:15 AM, sean kim wrote:
> hello group.
> this is gonna sound silly.
> How do ppl make random number generators? is a random number
> generator like a routine that picks a given set of different number
> then goes back to the beginning and starts over?
There are a variety of ways, Chapter 7 of Numerical Recipes describes
some of the most common methods, it's available online at
I believe Mathematica uses a sequence based on the evolution of a
cellular automaton, at least in some cases. Further description can be
found on page 317 of A New Kind of Science which is available here
> How does mathematica determine if a numbder is random? or is that
> even a right question to ask?
Randomness is a property of a sequence not an individual number. There
are a variety of tests of increasing sophistication used to test a
sequence for randomness, a quick Google search will provide you with
more than enough starting points for further research.
> I just wanted to know what the random generator is.
There isn't a single one.
> and how it's used
> in Mathematica.
The link to A New Kind of Science will tell you how the expression
Random[Integer] is evaluated, at least in the case of large integers.
If you are really curious perhaps you should ask Wolfram Technical
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