Encyclopedia > Pseudorandom number sequence

  Article Content

Pseudorandom number sequence

In information theory, the term pseudorandom number sequence has the following meanings:

1. A sequence of numbers that has been computed by some defined arithmetic process but is effectively a random number sequence for the purpose for which it is required.

Note: Although a pseudorandom number sequence in this sense often appears to lack any definite pattern, any pseudorandom number generator with a finite internal state will repeat after a very long sequence of numbers. This can be proved using the pigeonhole principle.

see also Pseudorandom number generator.

 
2. A sequence of numbers that satisfies one or more of the standard tests for statistical randomness.

Source: originally from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
Thomas a Kempis

... perceive more of eternal truth in a moment of time than a student might learn in the schools in ten years. Excellent as these counsels are, they are set in the ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 24.6 ms