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Random Number Generator (Posted on 2004-06-08) Difficulty: 3 of 5
A particular random number generator returns positive integer n with probability 1/(2^n). (ie '1' with probability 1/2, '2' with probability 1/4, '3' with probability 1/8, etc.)

Using this random number generator, write an algorithm which chooses a random integer from 1 to 37 with equal probability.

See The Solution Submitted by Brian Smith    
Rating: 2.0000 (1 votes)

Comments: ( Back to comment list | You must be logged in to post comments.)
re: Implementing Thalamus's 47-bits with Brian Smith's bit-stream. | Comment 22 of 27 |
(In reply to Implementing Thalamus's 47-bits with Brian Smith's bit-stream. by Charlie)

There is a bias in the algorithm.  The number generated can be between 37^9 and 2^47.  The numbers in that range do not properly reflect an even distribution.
  Posted by Brian Smith on 2004-06-16 13:46:23

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