Re: best approach to generate random number in java

From: Alex Hunsley (lard_at_tardis.ed.ac.molar.uk)
Date: 10/14/04 

Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 13:35:56 +0100

Paul Lutus wrote:
> Vincent Lascaux wrote:
>
>
>>>>...I suppose things are this way because truly random sequences require
>>>>something non-alorithmic such as RNG hardware which usually
>>>>isn't there in most cases...
>>>
>>>Actually, I think I am wrong there!
>>>I can easily write an alogrithm that produces very random digits: the
>>>digits of pi, or e, etc...
>>
>>I think you were right. Numbers of pi or e are *not* random... well, it
>>(of course) depends on the meaning of random. According to the first
>>dictionary I found googling (hyperdictionary), random is a synonyme for
>>"unpredictable". This looks good enough to me.
>>The numbers of pi are definitly predictable. Unpredictable implies that it
>>does not follow any algorithm.
>
>
> Yes, that adequately muddies the water. :) But "random" doesn't necessarily
> mean "unpredictable." It may instead mean evenly distributed, with no
> pattern.

I think this is what I was saying in my very recent post just now, but
using different words :)

I have a theorem: (if it can be called that)

  Truly unpredictable sequences of numbers can be produced
  by algorithmic means, but the runtime needed to produce
  successive numbers ramps up (possibly exponentially).

I think I might ask about this in comp.theory.

alex

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