pseudorandom number

pseudorandom number
random number

   <programming> One of a sequence of numbers generated by some
   {algorithm} so as to have an even distribution over some range
   of values and minimal {correlation} between successive
   values.

   Pseudorandom numbers are used in {simulation} and
   {encryption}.  They are pseudorandom not random because the
   sequence eventually repeats exactly and is entirely determined
   by the initial conditions.

   One of the simplest algorithms is

   	x[i+1] = (a * x[i] + c) mod m

   but this repeats after at most m numbers and successive
   numbers are closely related.  Better algorithms generally use
   more previous numbers to calculate the next number.

   (http://random.mat.sbg.ac.at/).

   (2007-06-29)