Random Numbers
Karen Divino (kdivino@ucla.edu)
Thu, 30 Nov 95 15:35:26 -0800
I agree with Marilyn that computer programs don't generate numbers
randomly. To the computer the number is not random, but to us the number
is considered random. When you write programs, at times you make an
error in your code and attempt to allocate memory not already defined in
your program. At times your program will just not work, but sometimes
the computer will output some number randomly (or that's what you think).
In actuality the computer is just bringing in something that is already
allocated in its memory. To the computer, it thinks that this is exactly
what you want, when in actuality you just made an error. Yes, the
computer does do exactly what you want it to do.
When it comes to a computer program that's objective is to generate
random variables. The program has to have some type of algorithm and
memory allocated to generate these numbers. No algorithm can run
differently with an infinite number of trials because it does not have an
infinite amount of memory space. The algorithm will start to repeat
itself or will have a defined pattern when enough trials are done.
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