Tom Lehman mused:
Tom> Dear Barkley, Do you recall assertions in the late 1970's
Tom> that there was no such thing as a computer generated random
Tom> number. Does anyone still hold this view?
if you want a graphical view of the issues involved in (pseudo-)random number generation on a computer for purposes of engineering and physics calculations (but not for digital encryption purposes, see DES instead), and you:
1.) have a Java capable browser, or can run Java standalone on your system
2.) have basic knowledge of the algebraic representation of a straight line in a plane
y = m * x + b
and
you aint afraid of a recursion relation:
x(n+1) = m * x(n) + b
(note its similarity to the straight line formula)
3.) know how to plots pairs of points in a plane
then check out:
http://www.math.utah.edu/~alfeld/Random/Random.html
enjoy..........
-- ____ Les Schaffer godzilla at netmeg.net ___| --->> Engineering R&D <<--- Theoretical & Applied Mechanics | Designspring, Inc. Center for Radiophysics & Space Research | Westport, CT USA Cornell Univ. schaffer at tam.cornell.edu | les at designspring.com