Re: python & mathematical methods of picking numbers at random

From: Mark Borgerding (mborgerding_at_cinci.rr.com)
Date: 01/16/04 

Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 02:46:31 GMT

Bart Nessux wrote:
> Paul Rubin wrote:
>
>> Bart Nessux <bart_nessux@hotmail.com> writes:
>>
>>> I am using method 'a' below to pick 25 names from a pool of 225. A
>>> co-worker is using method 'b' by running it 25 times and throwing out
>>> the winning name (names are associated with numbers) after each run
>>> and then re-counting the list and doing it all over again.
>>>
>>> My boss thinks that 'b' is somehow less fair than 'a',
>>
>>
>>
>> Both are the same, as you can see by calculating the probability of
>> any given name being selected. What is the application, and the
>> computer environment? You may also need to worry about correlations
>> in the underlying Mersenne Twister PRNG. If the application is
>> something where randomness is very important (you're picking winners
>> for a big lottery or something) then you should use a better RNG.
>
>
> We're raffling off crock-pots... that's why I think this is OK for our
> purposes.
>

Some will claim you cooked the numbers, even if it is a crock.
Let 'em blow off some steam, but don't chicken out. If you let them stew
for a day, they'll soften up and you'll eventually reach a cord.

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