Random Number Generation

Definition

• We use number generation to make a sequence of numbers that cannot be predicted

  • Prediction is the same as random chance

Hardware RNG

Physical RNG

• Tied to entropy so its truely random

• examples:

  • radioactive decay
  • thermal noise
  • radio noise
  • atmospheric noise

Software RNG

• Since we are basing it of computers we need to make an algorithm to create long strings of nmubers

  • main issue is that we use these seeds that can make the result deterministic
  • The sequence will repeat it self after some time

• Most common Linear congruential generator

  • $X_{n+1}=(a{X}_n+c)mod(m)$
    • X is the sequence of random numbers
    • a,c,m are seed integers
      • often they are massive
      • 0 < c < m
    • m is the modulus
      • m > 0