THE WHATIS.COM WORD-OF-THE-DAY September 4, 2003 random numbers ________________ SPONSORED BY: Akamai
FREE WHITE PAPER -The Business Internet: A Predictable Platform for Profitable E-Business Find out why TOYOTA, FOX NEWS and VICTORIA'S SECRET are among the rising number of businesses putting their web sites on the Business Internet. Discover how the Internet can be a predictable, scalable and secure environment for conducting profitable e-business. Click here for your free white paper from Akamai http://WhatIs.com/r/0,,17829,00.htm?akamai ________________ TODAY'S WORD: random numbers See our complete definition with hyperlinks at http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci922398,00.html Random numbers are numbers that occur in a sequence such that two conditions are met: (1) the values are uniformly distributed over a defined interval or set, and (2) it is impossible to predict future values based on past or present ones. Random numbers are important in statistical analysis and probability theory. The most common set from which random numbers are derived is the set of single-digit decimal numbers {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}. The task of generating random digits from this set is not trivial. A common scheme is the selection (by means of a mechanical escape hatch that lets one ball out at a time) of numbered ping-pong balls from a set of 10, one bearing each digit, as the balls are blown about in a container by forced-air jets. This method is popular in lotteries. After each number is selected, the ball with that number is returned to the set, the balls are allowed to blow around for a minute or two, and then another ball is allowed to escape. Sometimes the digits in the decimal expansions of irrational numbers are used in an attempt to obtain random numbers. Most whole numbers have irrational square roots, so entering a string of six or eight digits into a calculator and then hitting the square root button can provide a sequence of digits that seems random. Other algorithms have been devised that supposedly generate random numbers. The problem with these methods is that they violate condition (2) in the definition of randomness. The existence of any number-generation algorithm produces future values based on past and/or current ones. Digits or numbers generated in this manner are called pseudorandom. Statisticians, mathematicians, and scientists have long searched for the ideal source of random numbers. One of the best methods is the sampling of electromagnetic noise. This noise, generated by the chaotic movements of electrons, holes, or other charge carriers in materials and in space, is thought to be as close to "totally random" as any observable phenomenon. ______________________ RELATED TERMS: irrational number http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci283983,00.html algorithm http://searchvb.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid8_gci211545,00.html noise http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci212667,00.html electron http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci212046,00.html hole http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci214516,00.html ______________________ TODAY'S TECH NEWS: NO VACATION FOR VIRUSES IN AUGUST Security experts are ready to crown August as the worst month for malicious code ever. http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid14_gci922235,00.html HAS HOSTED CRM CLEARED THE SECURITY HURDLE? The model is clearly making a mark on the industry. So are businesses still hung up over trusting vital customer information to the security of an online provider? http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid11_gci920881,00.html ON-DEMAND IS AN EXERCISE IN UTILITY On-demand is one of this year's hottest trends according to the Wall Street Journal and Gartner Inc., and that's without being a mainstream member of the tech culture or even having a clear definition. Once everyone can define it and is doing it, revolution could come to the data center -- will you be ready? http://searchcio.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid19_gci921845,00.html >> Catch up on all the latest IT news at http://searchtechtarget.techtarget.com/ ______________________ September IT Horoscopes | Horoscopes for geeks (NEW!) See what the future holds for the month of September. ;-) http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci919205,00.html ______________________ Secret Word-of-the-Day | What is IT? HINT: This is a Windows utility used to check your hard disk for errors. It is initiated for you automatically if your system shutdown was not complete. >> See if you're right! http://searchwin2000.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid1_gci212941,00.html _____________________ Quiz #28 | Ethernet How much do you know about Ethernet? Take this week's quiz and find out! >> Click to take the quiz http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci834253,00.html ______________________________ RECENT ADDITIONS AND UPDATES [1] Nagle's algorithm http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci754347,00.html [2] strawman http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid11_gci840566,00.html [3] refactoring http://searchcio.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid19_gci919168,00.html [4] initial extent http://searchdatabase.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid13_gci916333,00.html [5] IT Crossword Puzzle: Malware http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci916579,00.html ____________________________________________________________________ ::::::::::::::::::: WHATIS.COM CONTACTS ::::::::::::::::::: LOWELL THING, Site Editor ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) ____________________________________________________________________ MARGARET ROUSE, Associate Editor ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) IVY WIGMORE, Assistant Editor ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) ::::::::::::::::::::: ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER :::::::::::::::::::::: This newsletter is published by TechTarget, the most targeted IT media. http://www.techtarget.com Copyright 2003 TechTarget. 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