xkcd #221: Random Number (9 Nov 2007) ( programming.dev )

cross-posted from: programming.dev/post/8677292

Transcript:

[A computer program.]


<span style="color:#323232;">int getRandomNumber()
</span><span style="color:#323232;">{
</span><span style="color:#323232;">   return 4; // chosen by fair dice roll.
</span><span style="color:#323232;">             // guaranteed to be random.
</span><span style="color:#323232;">}
</span>

Hover Text:

RFC 1149.5 specifies 4 as the standard IEEE-vetted random number.

AKADAP ,
@AKADAP@lemmy.ml avatar

Wasn’t that then number always returned by the PS3 random number generator used in their DRM?

dog_ ,

Thanks PS3!

pantyhosewimp ,

And it’s indempotent!

captainjaneway ,
@captainjaneway@lemmy.world avatar

I generate a random number and then use that number as a seed. I then generate a random number. Then I use that number as a seed. I then generate a random number. I divide that number by a random prime number picked in a similar fashion. I take the last n-digits of the remainder and that’s the random number I give to a user.

Trabic ,

Was it 4?

captainjaneway ,
@captainjaneway@lemmy.world avatar

maybe

Crashumbc ,

42

Spzi ,

That’s already pretty cool! It surely does generate very random numbers. I still think you can take it a step – or a random number of steps, hah! – further by repeating the process a random number of times! Maybe this way we can reach maximum randomness. Probably need to reroll the number until it’s big enough for that.

I would also check if the result is 4. If it’s 4, it should be discarded. 4 is not an actual random number but a joke random number from a comic.

LazaroFilm ,
@LazaroFilm@lemmy.world avatar

I prefer using a whole wall of lava lamps for a random number.

MNByChoice ,

Seems like the place to share. Ages ago a group epoxied a webcam and used the random flashes (from cosmic rays?) as their source of randomness.

rmuk ,

I think what they’re referring to is a company - I think it’s CloudFlare - who use a bunch of physical randomness generators to seed their commercial random number generator. One of those seeds is a webcam pointed at a load of lava lamps.

youtu.be/1cUUfMeOijg

lamabop ,

Incredible, cracked the pseudorandomness problem with this simple code that guarantees a random whole number greater than 3 and less than 5.

Thorry84 ,

Just update the code once a year to a different number, given long enough time the output will have a perfectly flat distribution.

veroxii ,

I mean, how many random numbers can there even be?

cron ,

Not more than six, at least if you use a standard dice.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • random
  • [email protected]
  • All magazines
    •