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In Our Time

Random and Pseudorandom

Jan 13, 2011
Melvyn Bragg and guests delve into randomness and pseudorandomness, discussing their significance in generating unpredictable numbers. From dice to quantum physics, explore the challenges of finding true randomness and the use of pseudorandomness in statistics, computer science, and cryptography.
42:06

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • True randomness is elusive, with pseudorandom numbers mimicking randomness but being deterministic in nature.
  • Pseudo-random numbers play a vital role in various fields, ensuring unpredictability in statistics, cryptography, and engineering.

Deep dives

Randomness in Gambling and Predictability

Randomness is a key concept in gambling and predicting outcomes. Not all random sequences truly exhibit randomness, as some can be predicted if the initial conditions are known. While games like the lottery and roulette are designed to be random, truly unpredictable randomness remains a complex topic. Pseudo-randomness plays a role in predicting outcomes in scenarios like gambling and lottery, where patterns are sought but not easily identified.

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