Re: Question about random numbers

From: kurt wismer (kurtw_at_sympatico.ca)
Date: 07/05/05 

Date: Mon, 04 Jul 2005 18:56:59 -0400

cpptutor2000@yahoo.com wrote:
> During a discussion with a colleague, a question came up:
> Can a string of zeros, say 64 characters long be considered a random
> number, i.e.,
> can the following be considered a random number:
> 0000000000000000000000000000...000....00000000000000000000
> Thanks for your opinions.

yes, it can be random... randomness has nothing to do with the contents
and everything to do with the source... if it was generated by a process
known to have a fundamentally unpredictable outcome (this is probably
too fuzzy for some folks here) then it is random...

further, if the probabilities of the different outcomes of that process
are uniformly distributed, the chances of getting 64 consecutive zeros
is the same as the chances of *any* other 64 character sequence...

64 identical characters is a little suspicious, mind you... 

-- 
"they threw a rope around yer neck to watch you dance the jig of death
then left ya for the starvin' crows, hoverin' like hungry whores
one flew down plucked out yer eye, the other he had in his sights
ya snarled at him, said leave me be - i need the bugger so i can see"

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