Tom Melly <tom### [at] tomandlucouk> wrote:


> "Ken" <tyl### [at] pacbellnet> wrote in message
> news:3A8182D3.B378D2C3@pacbell.net...
>>
>>
>> Tom Melly wrote:
>> >
>>
>> > Also, is the random number sequence a fixed sequence, with the seed just
>> > controlling the point at which you join the sequence.
>>
>> Yes.
>>

> This resolves all the other questions.

>> > If it is a fixed sequence, how long is it?
>>
>> I don't know.
>>

> Except this one.

Well, most random number sequences these days use the 1/sec > heat death
system.  Ie, if you got one number a second, then the sequence would take
longer than the heat death of the universe to repeat.  If Pov's isn't this
good, I can get them the code for the Mersenne Twister, which is some
obscene multiple of the heat death criteria, and is also really good
randomly.  And it's *fast*, which is also a big plus.  We use it for high
end simulation where I work, where time is critical.

Geoff

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