Re: Multiple independent random number streams cannot be implemented.
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg130171] Re: Multiple independent random number streams cannot be implemented.
- From: David Bailey <dave at removedbailey.co.uk>
- Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2013 03:08:28 -0400 (EDT)
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- Delivered-to: l-mathgroup@wolfram.com
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- References: <20130314111450.25C5269D8@smc.vnet.net> <khucj3$8c$1@smc.vnet.net>
On 15/03/2013 05:46, Sseziwa Mukasa wrote:
> You are asking for the opposite of independent random variables.
>
> I can think of a couple of solutions to your problem. If you know how
> many samples you're going to take you can initialize a vector and have f
> & g remember where they are in the vector.
>
There is a variable called $RandomState, which is poorly documented, but
seems (from a quick test) to hold enough information to restore the
random number generator to any position. Thus, any process can generate
its own random sequence:
fstate = 0;
f[] := Block[{$RandomState = $RandomState, tmp},
If[fstate ===0,
SeedRandom["The f function"];
fstate = $RandomState;
];
$RandomState = fstate;
tmp = Random[];
fstate = $RandomState;
tmp
];
gstate = 0;
g[] := Block[{$RandomState = $RandomState},
If[gstate ===0,
SeedRandom["The g function"];
gstate = $RandomState;
];
$RandomState = gstate;
tmp = Random[];
gstate = $RandomState;
tmp
]
Unfortunately, the documentation at 9.0 deprecates the use of
$RandomState - stating that it is superseded by BlockRandom - but
clearly $RandomState can solve problems which BlockRandom cannot.
David Bailey
http://www.dbaileyconsultancy.co.uk
- References:
- Multiple independent random number streams cannot be implemented.
- From: Roger Wilson <rogerhw999@gmail.com>
- Multiple independent random number streams cannot be implemented.