From 8afc973045f8963ec816cddaf7290f28409d17c8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Ben Pfaff Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 07:49:12 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Update PRNG documentation. --- doc/expressions.texi | 36 +++++++++++++++--------------------- 1 file changed, 15 insertions(+), 21 deletions(-) diff --git a/doc/expressions.texi b/doc/expressions.texi index 87355293..c319c9f8 100644 --- a/doc/expressions.texi +++ b/doc/expressions.texi @@ -421,35 +421,29 @@ system-missing or not missing at all. @cindex random numbers @cindex pseudo-random numbers (see random numbers) -Pseudo-random number generation functions take numeric arguments and +Pseudo-random number generation (PRNG) functions take numeric arguments and produce numeric results. -PSPP uses the alleged RC4 cipher as a pseudo-random number generator -(PRNG). The bytes output by this PRNG are system-independent for a -given random seed, but differences in endianness and floating-point -formats will make PRNG results differ from system to system. RC4 -should produce high-quality random numbers for simulation purposes. -(If you're concerned about the quality of the random number generator, -well, you're using a statistical processing package---analyze it!) - -PSPP's implementation of RC4 has not undergone any security auditing. -Furthermore, various precautions that would be necessary for secure -operation, such as secure seeding and discarding the first several -bytes of output, have not been taken. Therefore, PSPP's -implementation of RC4 should not be used for security purposes. +PSPP uses the ``Mersenne Twister'' PRNG as implemented in the GNU +Scientific Library, specifically the @code{gsl_rng_mt19937} variant. +This PRNG is a variant of the twisted generalized feedback +shift-register algorithm The bytes output by this PRNG are +system-independent for a given random seed, but differences in +endianness and floating-point formats will make PRNG results differ +from system to system. @cindex random numbers, normally-distributed -@deftypefn {Function} {} NORMAL (@var{number}) +@deftypefn {Function} {} NORMAL (@var{stddev}) Results in a random number. Results from @code{NORMAL} are normally -distributed with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of @var{number}. +distributed with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of @var{stddev}. @end deftypefn @cindex random numbers, uniformly-distributed -@deftypefn {Function} {} UNIFORM (@var{number}) -Results in a random number between 0 and @var{number}. Results from -@code{UNIFORM} are evenly distributed across its entire range. There -may be a maximum on the largest random number ever generated---this is -often +@deftypefn {Function} {} UNIFORM (@var{max}) +Results in a random number in the half-open interval [0,@var{max}). +Results from @code{UNIFORM} are evenly distributed across its entire +range. There may be a maximum on the largest random number ever +generated---this is often @ifinfo 2**31-1 @end ifinfo -- 2.30.2