Glossary

Pseudo-Random Numbers

Statistical Glossary

Pseudo-Random Numbers:

Pseudo-random numbers are produced by recursive algorithms – i.e. the current number is calculated from one or a greater number of previous numbers. Thus, strictly speaking, the pseudo-random numbers are deterministic, not random. On the other hand, in many respects pseudo-random numbers behave like truly random numbers.

Pseudo-random numbers are widely used in Monte Carlo simulation and in related applications, e.g. in the relatively new and powerful branch of practical statistics known as resampling .

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