Re: Balancing randomness
This WebDNA talk-list message is from 2000
It keeps the original formatting.
numero = 27979
interpreted = N
texte = On 2/23/00 4:26 pm, Christer Olsson so noted...>I belive your first results are based on a bad formula:>>[math]pick=[format .0f][math]pick=(([random]/100)*4)+1[/math][/format][/math]>>The part [random]/100)*4)+1 does not do what I think you expect it to do.>>If [random] is from 1-12 (12 figures) your formula will result in 1>If [random] is from 13-37 (25 figures) your formula will result in 2>If [random] is from 38-61 (24 figures) your formula will result in 3>If [random] is from 62-87 (26 figures) your formula will result in 4>If [random] is from 88-100 (13 figures) your formula will result in 5Excellent call. I had been using [format .0f] as an integer function, which is wrong since [format] is rounding up, not just lopping off the decimal (resulting in the quantities of the end numbers being skewed -- 1 would hit 13 times, 5 would hit 12, the rest at 25).By changing the formula to use floor( )...[math]pick=floor(([random]/100)*5)+1[/math] On my loop of 1000, I get a *far* better distribution:1 = 190 (19%)2 = 202 (20.2%)3 = 199 (19.9%)4 = 207 (20.7%)5 = 202 (20.2%)Whoo hoo!Now to look through a few websites and find where else I've used my crappy random routine : )P.S. [random] on Mac WC 3.0.5b11 gives numbers from 0-99 -- should I be concerned?Rob MarquardtDesigner/Resident WireheadToast Design800 Washington Avenue NorthMinneapolis MN 55401612.330.9863 v612.321.9424 fwww.toastdesign.com-------------------------------------------------------------Brought to you by CommuniGate Pro - The Buzz Word Compliant Messaging Server.To end your Mail problems go to
.This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to the mailing list .To unsubscribe, E-mail to: To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to
Associated Messages, from the most recent to the oldest:
On 2/23/00 4:26 pm, Christer Olsson so noted...>I belive your first results are based on a bad formula:>>[math]pick=[format .0f][math]pick=(([random]/100)*4)+1[/math][/format][/math]>>The part [random]/100)*4)+1 does not do what I think you expect it to do.>>If [random] is from 1-12 (12 figures) your formula will result in 1>If [random] is from 13-37 (25 figures) your formula will result in 2>If [random] is from 38-61 (24 figures) your formula will result in 3>If [random] is from 62-87 (26 figures) your formula will result in 4>If [random] is from 88-100 (13 figures) your formula will result in 5Excellent call. I had been using [format .0f] as an integer function, which is wrong since [format] is rounding up, not just lopping off the decimal (resulting in the quantities of the end numbers being skewed -- 1 would hit 13 times, 5 would hit 12, the rest at 25).By changing the formula to use floor( )...[math]pick=floor(([random]/100)*5)+1[/math] On my loop of 1000, I get a *far* better distribution:1 = 190 (19%)2 = 202 (20.2%)3 = 199 (19.9%)4 = 207 (20.7%)5 = 202 (20.2%)Whoo hoo!Now to look through a few websites and find where else I've used my crappy random routine : )P.S. [random] on Mac WC 3.0.5b11 gives numbers from 0-99 -- should I be concerned?Rob MarquardtDesigner/Resident WireheadToast Design800 Washington Avenue NorthMinneapolis MN 55401612.330.9863 v612.321.9424 fwww.toastdesign.com-------------------------------------------------------------Brought to you by CommuniGate Pro - The Buzz Word Compliant Messaging Server.To end your Mail problems go to .This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to the mailing list .To unsubscribe, E-mail to: To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to
Rob Marquardt
DOWNLOAD WEBDNA NOW!
Top Articles:
Talk List
The WebDNA community talk-list is the best place to get some help: several hundred extremely proficient programmers with an excellent knowledge of WebDNA and an excellent spirit will deliver all the tips and tricks you can imagine...
Related Readings:
Rubbish in form fields (2004)
[Sum] function? (1997)
How To question on setting up downloads (1997)
[OT] Am I an Idiot? (2004)
Moment of Thanks (1997)
pop up menu's (1998)
Form based Redirect (2001)
Kaaaaahhhhhhhnnnnnnn! (1997)
Sorting Numbers (1997)
This list needs a digest: rant, rave... (1997)
Help! WebCat2 bug (1997)
all records returned. (1997)
problem with NT beta (1997)
[WebDNA] Gulf Coast WebDNA programmers (2010)
Sorting by date (1997)
Refering page (1998)
Another Flash Question (2000)
$Append for Users outside the ADMIN group (1997)
WebDNA EMail Preference (2005)
Browser Info.txt -- newest additions? (1997)