python & mathematical methods of picking numbers at random

[Mark Borgerding]

Bart Nessux wrote:
> Paul Rubin wrote:
> 
>> Bart Nessux <bart_nessux at hotmail.com> writes:
>>
>>> I am using method 'a' below to pick 25 names from a pool of 225. A
>>> co-worker is using method 'b' by running it 25 times and throwing out
>>> the winning name (names are associated with numbers) after each run
>>> and then re-counting the list and doing it all over again.
>>>
>>> My boss thinks that 'b' is somehow less fair than 'a',
>>
>>
>>
>> Both are the same, as you can see by calculating the probability of
>> any given name being selected.  What is the application, and the
>> computer environment?  You may also need to worry about correlations
>> in the underlying Mersenne Twister PRNG.  If the application is
>> something where randomness is very important (you're picking winners
>> for a big lottery or something) then you should use a better RNG.
> 
> 
> We're raffling off crock-pots... that's why I think this is OK for our 
> purposes.
> 

Some will claim you cooked the numbers, even if it is a crock.
Let 'em blow off some steam, but don't chicken out. If you let them stew 
for a day, they'll soften up and you'll eventually reach a cord.