Random Magic Paths - is it truly random?

[bone_daddy]

Ok, so although the occurence of any given number within the set of variables will be random, there will be an emergent pattern (the distribution) which is not. Is my comprehension of what you are saying correct?

Please forgive my ignorance concerning stats and probs, but I've never taken any math courses beyond basic algebra and trig. Never really needed them. I have a tendency to only learn things as I need them, unless it's something I find interesting. :-/

[BigDaddy]

It is true that a computer can give numbers that have a nearly random distribution, BUT because they use a distribution (my brother called it an MT, for I think Marsenne Twist) and a seed (from the clock) there is an element of forecasting available that is completely impossible with true random systems. I think ANSI, which regulate random numbers I guess, has determined the the MT is the new method of choice! Still sophisticated software CAN match/nearly match random distributions, but it can't come up with random numbers. Nearly matching distributions is all you have to prove, and I don't believe that it was ever speculated that computers couldn't come close to random. In a logical system such as the computer, its impossible for the PC to pull a number out of it's B***, it's programmed how to follow a distribution.

Bone_daddy, yes, random systems have their own "patterns". Such as the normal distribution, where outliers of very high numbers are explained, but most number fall close to the average.