Re: RandomReal gets stuck
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg100380] Re: RandomReal gets stuck
- From: "Sjoerd C. de Vries" <sjoerd.c.devries at gmail.com>
- Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 06:44:24 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <h00d18$pis$1@smc.vnet.net>
> The code above uses Maximize in a non-sensical way, particularly
> when the function y hasn't been defined. This usage asks
> Mathematica to find the maximize the sum of n things with
> respect to each of the n things. It appears there is an attempt
> to use the notation y[n] to mean an array indexed by n rather
> than a function of n. So, Maximize correctly generates error
> messages. What is unexpected is poor input to Maximize appears
> to cause a problem for RandomReal.
Bill,
I don't think you understood what I was trying to do. I merely
simplified Bas' code to something that had the same effects on random
number generation. The use of y[i] was taken from Bas' example. I
don't think he meant to index an array. You can use y[1], y[2] etc.
just as any other variable.
The error message in Maximize is not material to the problem. I ask
Mathematica to maximize an unbounded sum of variables. It's a
perfectly legal (though unsolvable) problem. That it responds with an
error message doesn't matter (I can -and have- come up with more
elaborate functions that have the same problem with random numbers but
don't cause Maximize to generate a warning). The problem is that
Maximize with 31 or more variables resets the random number generator.
In the mean time, Wolfram has confirmed this is indeed the case and it
will be fixed in a new realease.
Cheers -- Sjoerd
On Jun 1, 1:11 pm, Bill Rowe <readn... at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> On 5/31/09 at 6:34 AM, sjoerd.c.devr... at gmail.com (Sjoerd C. de
>
> Vries) wrote:
> >I can confirm this bug.
> >Executing an even simpler version, namely
> >Maximize[Plus @@ Table[y[i], {i, 31}], Table[y[i], {i, 31}]];
> >will also set the random generator to a fixed starting point. The
> >number 31 is crucial, as lower values do not appear to cause the
> >bug, while higher values do. Changing Plus to Times appears to
> >prevent the bug.
> >In[394]:= Table[
> >Maximize[Plus @@ Table[y[i], {i, 31}], Table[y[i], {i, 31}]];
> >RandomReal[], {20}
> >]
>
> When I execute the code above, I do get the same result as you
> report. Clearly, there is a problem here somewhere. But it isn't
> clear the issue is with RandomReal.
>
> The code above uses Maximize in a non-sensical way, particularly
> when the function y hasn't been defined. This usage asks
> Mathematica to find the maximize the sum of n things with
> respect to each of the n things. It appears there is an attempt
> to use the notation y[n] to mean an array indexed by n rather
> than a function of n. So, Maximize correctly generates error
> messages. What is unexpected is poor input to Maximize appears
> to cause a problem for RandomReal.
>
> On my system, changing Plus to Times eliminates the effect on
> RandomReal even though there is still a non-sensical input to
> Maximize. Alternatively, defining y then executing the code does
>
> In[5]:= y[n_] := n^2 - n
>
> In[6]:= Table[
> Maximize[Plus @@ Table[y[i], {i, 31}], Table[y[i], {i, 31}]];
> RandomReal[], {20}]
>
> During evaluation of In[6]:= Maximize::ivar: 0 is not a valid
> variable. >>
>
> During evaluation of In[6]:= Maximize::ivar: 0 is not a valid
> variable. >>
>
> During evaluation of In[6]:= Maximize::ivar: 0 is not a valid
> variable. >>
>
> During evaluation of In[6]:= General::stop: Further output of
> Maximize::ivar will be suppressed during this calculation. >>
>
> Out[6]= {0.877054,0.833103,0.703786,0.0482118,0.226066,0.230746,0.07380=
72=
> ,0.680963,0.53264,0.989333,0.418793,0.951114,0.963168,0.870439,0.926361,0=
.267113,0.195084,0.810066,0.875896,0.579076}
>
> >This is very nasty, as a lot of people critically depend on random
> >functions to be random. I would urge you to report this to wolfram
> >support.
>
> I agree many people including myself depend on the random
> functions to be random. And I would also like Mathematica to
> fail gracefully when given non-sensical input and provide useful
> error messages. But I am never surprised when software does
> something other than fail gracefully given non-sensical input or
> provides less than useful error messages.
>
> Entering
>
> Table[
> Maximize[Plus @@ Table[y[i], {i, 31}], Table[y[i], {i, 31}]];
> RandomReal[],
> {20}
> ]
>
> into a new session and expecting useful output simply isn't a
> reasonable expectation.
>
> Note, this in no way says what the original poster was doing is
> unreasonable or non-sensical. The rest of the information needed
> to determine whether what the original poster was attempting is
> sensible hasn't been provided. I would also note, that sending a
> bug report to Wolfram without the additional information is
> probably pointless.