Using, Generating and Testing with Pseudo-Random Numbers

Explore the world of pseudo-random numbers in this comprehensive conference talk from ACCU 2023. Discover how deterministic functions generate random-like results and learn to utilize various random number distributions effectively. Delve into the intricacies of simulating dice rolls, avoiding common pitfalls in programming languages, and briefly examine stochastic outcomes from deterministic models. Investigate more complex scenarios, such as generating numbers with specific properties or distributed around an average. Gain insights into testing code that uses random numbers and familiarize yourself with key concepts like pseudorandom number generators (PRNGs), linear congruential generators, and random distributions. Conclude with a visual demonstration of racing blobs out of a paper bag using various distributions, reinforcing the learning outcomes in an engaging manner.