From: mwbuda@...
Date: 2006-01-25T00:43:38+09:00
Subject: Re: problems with standard rand functions


Timothy Goddard wrote:
> # Start Script
>
> total = Hash.new(0)
>
> 1000000.times do
>   total[(rand * 10).to_i] += 1
> end
>
> 10.times do |t|
>   puts "#{t}0% - #{t + 1}0%: #{total[t] / 10000}%"
> end
>
> # End Script
>
>
> # Start Output
>
> 00% - 10%: 10.0151%
> 10% - 20%: 10.009%
> 20% - 30%: 10.0326%
> 30% - 40%: 9.9543%
> 40% - 50%: 10.0381%
> 50% - 60%: 9.9985%
> 60% - 70%: 9.963%
> 70% - 80%: 9.97%
> 80% - 90%: 9.997%
> 90% - 100%: 10.0224%
>
> # End Output
>
> As you can see, there does not appear to be any simple skew at work
> here. If you post your code, we may be able to identify the source of
> any bias.

whoops, im an idiot! i forgot to clear out the array the generated
numbers were stuck in before perfroming a sort function, the result
being that high values from previous rolls werent tossed out.

thanks anyway