[latex3-commits] [l3svn] r6750 - Add random numbers to l3fp, allow 0-argument functions

[Bruno Le Floch]

On 12/02/2016 08:44 AM, Chris A Rowley wrote:
> 
> On 28 Nov 2016, at 20:04, David Carlisle <d.p.carlisle at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>>> \MP\ generates pseudo-random numbers with the additive scheme
>>> recommended in Section 3.6 of {\sl The Art of Computer Programming};
> 
> Not our problem, but I think,that should be     . . . .Programming, Volume 2}
> 
> Chris
> 

Thanks Chris, I'm trying to figure out what to document, so I looked at
the code in pdftex.web, and the following paragraph gets me worried

-----

@ To produce a uniform random number in the range |0<=u<x| or |0>=u>x|
or |0=u=x|, given a |scaled| value~|x|, we proceed as shown here.

Note that the call of |take_frac| will produce the values 0 and~|x|
with about half the probability that it will produce any other particular
values between 0 and~|x|, because it rounds its answers.

@p function unif_rand(@!x:integer):integer;
var @!y:integer; {trial value}
begin next_random; y:=take_frac(abs(x),randoms[j_random]);
if y=abs(x) then unif_rand:=0
else if x>0 then unif_rand:=y
else unif_rand:=-y;
end;

-----

Am I reading correctly that they take randoms[j_random], namely a 32 bit
integer, and rescale it to whatever interval the user requests?  This
doesn't give uniform results at all, especially when the output range is
close to 32 bits.  I'd have to document this and try to think whether
there is a way around that.

Best,

Bruno