Graphical Analysis of Some Pseudo-Random Number Generators

Abstract

There exist today many 'good' pseudo-random number generators; the problem is to retrieve them. This document discusses three commonly used pseudo- random number generators, the first being RANDU, a notoriously bad generator, but one which is still occasionally used. The next is the widely used prime modulus, multiplicative congruential generator used in LL-RANDOMII, the Naval Postgraduate School random number package, and the last is the random number generator provided for microcomputers with the DOS operating system. This latter pseudo-random number generator is completely defective. Simple graphical methods for initial screening of pseudo-random number generators are given, and the problems which arise with bad pseudo-random number generators are detailed with graphics. Finally, recent work on obtaining even better pseudo-random number generators is discussed.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADA177054

Entities

People

  • Peter A. Lewis

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Classification
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Graphics
  • Numbers
  • Operating Systems
  • Operations Research
  • Probability
  • Random Number Generators
  • Random Variables
  • Security
  • Simulations
  • Statistics
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Computer science
  • Mathematics

Readers

  • Computer Programming and Software Development.
  • Database Systems and Applications
  • Regression Analysis.