Re: question about random generator

Antonio wrote:
> Robert Gamble wrote:
> > Antonio wrote:
> > > pete wrote:
> > > > Does "pseudo-random" mean the same thing as "uniformly
> > > > distributed" ?
> > >
> > > Completely OT, but anyway... No, pseudo-random means that it looks
> > > like it's random but it really isn't. There is no way to generate
> > > trully random numbers with a computer, everything you do is
> > > deterministic,

There are entropy (et al) devices that generate numbers that are, to
all intents and purposes, truly random. However, they cannot be used to
implement rand() since the sequence generated must be repeatable
(if the programmer sets the same seed as before.)

> > > but you can generate sequences that look like they're
> > > random but that aren't. Hence the term _pseudo_-random.
> >
> > Yes, we know, you didn't say anything that wasn't completely obvious.
> > ...
>
> It may be completely obvious to you, and to many people (including
> myself), but it doesn't seem to be obvious to "pete", since he asked.

I think pete's question to Eric was somewhat rhetorical, though perhaps
he too asked on behalf of those not inclined to ask (or know to ask.)
;)

--
Peter

.