Random numbers...
John Hop-Doan Nguyen (154adjhn@pic.ucla.edu)
Tue, 21 Nov 95 18:36:04 -0800
After reading Jon's opinion that there is no true "random number", I can't help
but think that if that is true, why do we even use the word random? I can't
agree with the idea that randomness does not involve any human input. The word
random doesn't seem to imply that no human effort is involved. According to
Jon's Webster link (which was very useful), the word random stresses lack of
definite goal, aim or regular procedure. That doesn't imply that human effort
must be absent. Eventually, I can't really answer the second question myself
since anytime you look for an absolute truth it seems to lead you back from
where you started.
But to answer the reader's question, I would have to ask if he thinks pulling a
card out of a deck is a random event? If he agrees, then it seems that a
compter does the same thing when it chooses a number from a larger pool of
numbers (all with equal probability). The computer just facilitates the
process of pulling numbers out.
Back to the Chatroom Homepage...
Back to the Stats 154A Homepage...
Back to the listings...
Send a message...
This archive was generated by hypermail 1.02.