Comments on: Choosing Random Numbers http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers Luck is the residue of good design. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:30:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: David Stiller http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-89494 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:37:15 +0000 http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-89494 Tim, You're welcome! :) Glad to help. Tim,

You’re welcome! :) Glad to help.

]]> by: Tim http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-89384 Mon, 08 Oct 2007 15:38:54 +0000 http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-89384 Yes, thanks for taking the time to write this. I wrote a yahtzee game using math.round and I noticed 1's and 6's were hard to get, and thus the distribution at the upper and lower bounds of my range were 1/2 as likely to occur. Thanks for all the contributions!!! Yes, thanks for taking the time to write this. I wrote a yahtzee game using math.round and I noticed 1’s and 6’s were hard to get, and thus the distribution at the upper and lower bounds of my range were 1/2 as likely to occur.

Thanks for all the contributions!!!

]]> by: NSurveyor http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-75138 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 23:39:48 +0000 http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-75138 I think I know what Gs is getting at. I recall in True BASIC, if you tried using random calls without "randomize" you would get the same numbers every time you ran the program. When you think about it, how is it possible to generate a truly random number? AFAIK, they aren't... rather they are pseudorandom numbers. I believe the algorithm uses a timer and some complex mathemetical formula. If for example, the "mathematical formula" were a simply a polynomial, then we can determine the polynomial and all subsequent "random" numbers, given one more than the degree of the polynomical. Example, if random tells us f(0) = 2, f(1) = 3, f(2) = 6, we can determine that f(x) = x^2+2, assuming we are dealing with a 2nd degree polynomial. And then generate the random numbers manually. But anyways, I think the algorithm would be too complex to foretell the random numbers, nor would there ever be an opportunity to exploit it. I think I know what Gs is getting at.

I recall in True BASIC, if you tried using random calls without “randomize” you would get the same numbers every time you ran the program.

When you think about it, how is it possible to generate a truly random number? AFAIK, they aren’t… rather they are pseudorandom numbers. I believe the algorithm uses a timer and some complex mathemetical formula.

If for example, the “mathematical formula” were a simply a polynomial, then we can determine the polynomial and all subsequent “random” numbers, given one more than the degree of the polynomical. Example, if random tells us f(0) = 2, f(1) = 3, f(2) = 6, we can determine that f(x) = x^2+2, assuming we are dealing with a 2nd degree polynomial. And then generate the random numbers manually.

But anyways, I think the algorithm would be too complex to foretell the random numbers, nor would there ever be an opportunity to exploit it.

]]> by: David Stiller http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-17361 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 18:56:42 +0000 http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-17361 Gs, <blockquote>Yeah Next five numbers also random number between 1 to 100…but what are that possible numbers…</blockquote> Didn't we cover this? ;) <blockquote>Is there any equation or formula to find next 5 numbers by calculating or using given five numbers…</blockquote> Sure. :) If you can think of an equation to generate a <em>specific sequence</em> of numbers, it can almost certainly be codified in ActionScript 2.0. But by definition, then, the sequence wouldn't be random, so maybe I'm misunderstanding your question. Gs,

Yeah Next five numbers also random number between 1 to 100…but what are that possible numbers…

Didn’t we cover this? ;)

Is there any equation or formula to find next 5 numbers by calculating or using given five numbers…

Sure. :) If you can think of an equation to generate a specific sequence of numbers, it can almost certainly be codified in ActionScript 2.0. But by definition, then, the sequence wouldn’t be random, so maybe I’m misunderstanding your question.

]]> by: Gs http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-17360 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 18:53:05 +0000 http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-17360 David, Yeah Next five numbers also random number between 1 to 100...but what are that possible numbers... Is there any equation or formula to find next 5 numbers by calculating or using given five numbers... David,

Yeah Next five numbers also random number between 1 to 100…but
what are that possible numbers…
Is there any equation or formula to find next 5 numbers by calculating
or using given five numbers…

]]> by: David Stiller http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-17311 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:16:11 +0000 http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-17311 Gs, If the next five numbers are random, then they would be five numbers between (or including) 1 and 100. Gs,

If the next five numbers are random, then they would be five numbers between (or including) 1 and 100.

]]> by: Gs http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-17253 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 07:10:18 +0000 http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-17253 Suppose, If my first five numbers are 88,73,95,68,55 Between 1 to 100. What will be possible next 5 numbers for me…..?? Suppose, If my first five numbers are 88,73,95,68,55 Between 1 to 100.
What will be possible next 5 numbers for me…..??

]]> by: David Stiller http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-3823 Sun, 15 Oct 2006 16:28:51 +0000 http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-3823 Denis, Thanks! Glad to hear you enjoy the content. In the case of this particular article, make sure you read the <a href="http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers-redux" target="_blank">updated companion piece</a>. Denis,

Thanks! Glad to hear you enjoy the content. In the case of this particular article, make sure you read the updated companion piece.

]]> by: Denis Ivanov http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-3813 Sun, 15 Oct 2006 01:28:25 +0000 http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-3813 This has been infinitely helpful, I thoroughly appreciate both your efforts. I am just sure a lot more of us starting web developers applaud bits like this, so I express this on behalf of all those who didn't have time to. Thank You. This has been infinitely helpful, I thoroughly appreciate both your efforts. I am just sure a lot more of us starting web developers applaud bits like this, so I express this on behalf of all those who didn’t have time to.

Thank You.

]]> by: David Stiller http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-3455 Thu, 05 Oct 2006 05:50:24 +0000 http://www.quip.net/blog/2006/flash/choosing-random-numbers#comment-3455 NSurveyor, Ahh, man! Thank you. :-D For real, thanks for that input! As soon as I hit the Publish button on this post, a thought flitted across my brain. The thought said, "Hey, wait a minute ... the lowest and highest numbers are only half as likely to be chosen ..." &#8212; and you've already pointed out the issue in detail, as well as the correction. I hate to admit it, but I was simply too tired (yes, even at 9PM!) to go back and rethink/rewrite the post. But I should have. You're absolutely right. Humble pie makes a good meal. NSurveyor,

Ahh, man! Thank you. :-D For real, thanks for that input! As soon as I hit the Publish button on this post, a thought flitted across my brain. The thought said, “Hey, wait a minute … the lowest and highest numbers are only half as likely to be chosen …” — and you’ve already pointed out the issue in detail, as well as the correction.

I hate to admit it, but I was simply too tired (yes, even at 9PM!) to go back and rethink/rewrite the post. But I should have. You’re absolutely right.

Humble pie makes a good meal.

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