significant digits in random numbers in scientificform
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg46278] significant digits in random numbers in scientificform
- From: sean_incali at yahoo.com (sean kim)
- Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 02:28:47 -0500 (EST)
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
hello group.
few more questions.
how do I pick random numbers such that, when displayed in
ScientificForm, the coefficients only vary to designated number of
digits?
Example: 1.2345x 10^1 has significant digits of 5 (1.2345), where as
1.2*10^3 has signficant digits of 2.(1.2)
consider the following.
In[601]:=
rule1 = {k1 ->10^Random[Real,{1,3}, 2]//ScientificForm,
k2 ->10^Random[Real,{1,3}, 5]//ScientificForm}
k1 + k2/.rule1
but above gives following errors.
ReplaceAll::reps :(k1 -> 1.4×10^2, k2 -> 7.875×10^1) is neither a list
of replacement rules nor a valid dispatch table, and so cannot be used
for replacing. "More?"
What I wanted Mathematica to pick was something like...
(random real number to given digits) *10^ (random integer chosen from
range)
So the question is two fold. How do I tell mathematica to pick random
numbers only in designated number of digits? and use that in
downstream calculations?
if I use..
Random[Real, {1,10},5]* 10 ^ Random[Integer, {1, 3}]
above does what I want but I hate the idea of using two Random, and
I'm worried that it will cause problems. and i would liek to see how
you guys would do it.
will the routine be too slow If i have to use it many many times? and
if so why and how do i fix it?
thank you all very much in advance as always.
sean