Talk:Randomness
From Maze
(Difference between revisions)
(→Notes on Randomness from Nick, Noah, Mark and Patsy 5/7/2011) | (→Moved from Randomness Chapter on 6/16/2011) | ||
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Patterns in these data are way behind the abilities of humans to predict in our heads, and are even difficult for many computers to suss out. | Patterns in these data are way behind the abilities of humans to predict in our heads, and are even difficult for many computers to suss out. | ||
| − | * How the number is actually generated | ||
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| − | But normally, digital orderliness is the rule. It is at least true for the chip (MOS6510) running the Commodore 64’s BASIC interpreter, as well as the chip running the original BASIC interpreter at Dartmouth. The next section will talk about the harnessing of randomness. | ||
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| − | Reliability of the randomness. Point out that pseudo-randomness is not bad or inferior. | ||
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Although random numbers seem to against the concept of predictability, it turns out it is difficult to generate numbers that are extremely predictable. | Although random numbers seem to against the concept of predictability, it turns out it is difficult to generate numbers that are extremely predictable. | ||
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The original BASIC manual shows that Dartmouth Basic (the first BASIC), had a similar specification for the RND(x) function. It generated a single stream of pseudorandom numbers. Interestingly, it recommends throwing away the first "115" or so numbers. (reference: BASIC_Oct64.pdf, page 45 of PDF, page -39- of original document) | The original BASIC manual shows that Dartmouth Basic (the first BASIC), had a similar specification for the RND(x) function. It generated a single stream of pseudorandom numbers. Interestingly, it recommends throwing away the first "115" or so numbers. (reference: BASIC_Oct64.pdf, page 45 of PDF, page -39- of original document) | ||
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* Develop three or four one-liners | * Develop three or four one-liners | ||
* User/programmer side | * User/programmer side | ||
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* How it could be used to teach someone randomness/probability | * How it could be used to teach someone randomness/probability | ||
* Prg in User guide demo of biasing randomness | * Prg in User guide demo of biasing randomness | ||
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This lesson was not documented here first. It is from the Commodore 64 User's Guide, a spiral-bound volume the size of a paperback which came with every store-bought Commodore 64. It gives try-as-you-go examples which teach the reader how to use the Commodore 64, with ample space devoted to BASIC programming. This is especially significant, considering that Commodore, a tightly-run company provided such thorough documentation, when minimal resources were dedicated toward the improvement of BASIC from previous version. | This lesson was not documented here first. It is from the Commodore 64 User's Guide, a spiral-bound volume the size of a paperback which came with every store-bought Commodore 64. It gives try-as-you-go examples which teach the reader how to use the Commodore 64, with ample space devoted to BASIC programming. This is especially significant, considering that Commodore, a tightly-run company provided such thorough documentation, when minimal resources were dedicated toward the improvement of BASIC from previous version. | ||
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== Notes on Randomness from Nick, Noah, Mark and Patsy 5/7/2011 == | == Notes on Randomness from Nick, Noah, Mark and Patsy 5/7/2011 == | ||
