note
Abigail-II
<code>rand()</code> uses a random number generator from your
platform. This function typically returns an integer in the
range <code>0</code> to some maximum <code>RAND_MAX</code>.
That is, the output consists of a fixed number of bits.
Regardless whether you are using a pseude random number
generator (which will have some kind of periodicity), or
some true random source. You get 15, 16, 31, 32, 48 or some
other number of bits.
<p>
All Perl is doing is do some scaling, dividing the number it
got from the system by the maximum the system can return, and
then multiplying it by the argument you gave to <code>rand</code>.
Hence, the argument you give to rand has little influence
on the "randomness" (there might be some roundoff errors,
but they should not have much influence).
<p>
If your program repeatedly generates output, I guess your
systems C library is broken. Try translating the program to
an equivalent C program and see what happens.
<p>
Abigail
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