[erlang-questions] On OTP rand module difference between OTP 19 and OTP 20

[Richard A. O'Keefe]

On 30/08/17 6:42 PM, Raimo Niskanen wrote:
> On Wed, Aug 30, 2017 at 11:44:57AM +1200, Richard A. O'Keefe wrote:

>> There are applications of random numbers for which it is important
>> that 0 never be returned.  Of course, nothing stops me writing
>
> What kind of applications?  I would like to get a grip on how needed this
> function is?

I'll give you just one example.  There are two ways I know to generate
normally distributed random numbers.  One of them goes like this:

     sqrt(-2 * ln(randnz()) * cos(pi * random())

where random() is in [0,1) but randnz() must be in (0,1).

OK, I'll give you another example.  This is part of an algorithm for
generating gamma variates, one of the best known.

     U <- random()
     if U <= r then
         z <- -ln(U/r)
     else
         z <- ln(random()/lambda)
     end

You will notice that both of the calls to ln will go wrong if
random() can return 0.

These aren't the only examples, but I have an appointment.