Understanding “randomness”

Question

I can\'t get my head around this, which is more random?

rand()

OR:

rand() * rand()

I´m f

Answer 1

Some things about "randomness" are counter-intuitive.

Assuming flat distribution of rand(), the following will get you non-flat distributions:

• high bias: sqrt(rand(range^2))
• bias peaking in the middle: (rand(range) + rand(range))/2
• low:bias: range - sqrt(rand(range^2))

There are lots of other ways to create specific bias curves. I did a quick test of rand() * rand() and it gets you a very non-linear distribution.