Talk:Probabilistic choice: Difference between revisions

:::And so? I take it that the above is a quote. Is it a misquote? does the context from the quote match our context? As J.C. is purported to have said "let he who is without sin, cast the first stone", maybe the quote goes against you in that the quote means everyone is doing it and so what ;-)

:::(Gosh, a bible quote from me!!?!) --[[User:Paddy3118|Paddy3118]] 08:24, 17 April 2011 (UTC)

 

:So, ok, my thought was: is 1 a random number? --[[User:Rdm|Rdm]] 18:00, 16 April 2011 (UTC)

::HA! Good one. No, I was of course not being precise enough in my speech, and you caught me. Randomness or pseudorandomness is a characteristic of number selection or number generation, not of numbers themselves. I have corrected my original comment. --[[User:Balrog|Balrog]] 20:06, 16 April 2011 (UTC)

 

Hi Balrog, I've removed your change to the task description for the reasons I've stated above. --[[User:Paddy3118|Paddy3118]] 08:31, 17 April 2011 (UTC)

 

For all intents and purposes (at least in this task), "random" means "random or pseudo-random". If you want to add an example which uses a true random number generator service, go for it. Examples which use built-in pseudo-random number generators for most practical tasks are not incorrect (unless, of course, the nature of the task is to highlight the use of a true random number generator). Anyone who needs to be self-assured that they know the difference can make a task which uses one of these services (something like [[Random numbers/True random number service]] would be an appropriate task even without this argument going on). As far as this task goes, the distinction doesn't need to be made. People know what you mean by "random". (See [[User:Mwn3d/Word_mincing#Random_vs._Pseudo-random]] for a little bit more of my opinions on the situation). --[[User:Mwn3d|Mwn3d]] 16:50, 17 April 2011 (UTC)