Re: Generating Random Numbers with Normal Distribution

On 12/12/2007, Daniel Brown <parasane@gmail.com> wrote: > On Dec 12, 2007 9:00 AM, tedd <tedd.sperling@gmail.com> wrote: > > At 3:04 PM -0500 12/10/07, Daniel Brown wrote: > > > Unfortunately, because computers are logical, there's no such > > >thing (at least as of yet) as a truly random number being generated by > > >a machine. > > > Unless the computer is tied to a peripheral that samples nature. > > In which case the random number is not being generated by the > computer, but rather derived from data interpreted from nature. Can you define for me where the machine stops and nature starts? I mean, if I make a clock that uses the physical properties of a pendulum to demarcate units of time then the pendulum is obviously part of the machine. But if I make a computer that uses the physical properties of a radio-isotope to generate random numbers, you seem to be be saying that the radio-isotope is not part of the machine, but instead part of nature. -robin