Roll: Difference between revisions

From APL Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Miraheze>Adám Brudzewsky
Miraheze>Adám Brudzewsky
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Primitive|?|Roll}} is a [[monadic]] [[scalar function]] which returns random or pseudo-random numbers. Each [[scalar]] in the argument must be a non-negative integer. If it is a positive number <source lang=apl inline>n</source>, then Roll chooses one of the first <source lang=apl inline>n</source> [[Index|indices]]. In some dialects Roll chooses a floating-point number between 0 and 1 when the argument has a zero.
{{Primitive|?|Roll}} is a [[monadic]] [[scalar function]] which returns random or pseudo-random numbers. Each [[scalar]] in the argument must be a positive integer, <source lang=apl inline>n</source>, and Roll chooses one of the first <source lang=apl inline>n</source> [[Index|indices]]. Some dialects allow <source lang=apl inline>n</source> to be zero, in which case Roll chooses a floating-point number between 0 and 1.


== Examples ==
== Examples ==
Line 15: Line 15:
== Description ==
== Description ==


Each [[scalar]] in the argument to Roll must be a non-negative integer.
Each [[scalar]] in the argument to Roll must be a positive integer.


The result of Roll on each number <source lang=apl inline>n</source> is either
The result of Roll on each number <source lang=apl inline>n</source> is either
* A real number chosen uniformly at random from between 0 and 1, if n is 0; or
* One of the elements of <source lang=apl inline>⍳n</source> chosen uniformly at random; or
* One of the elements of <source lang=apl inline>⍳n</source> chosen uniformly at random, otherwise.
* A real number between 0 and 1 chosen uniformly at random, if <source lang=apl inline>n</source> is 0 and the dialect has this extension.


Because [[Iota]] depends on [[index origin]], Roll depends on index origin unless every number in the argument is 0.
Because [[Iota]] depends on [[index origin]], Roll depends on index origin unless every number in the argument is 0.
Line 29: Line 29:
=== Lessons ===
=== Lessons ===


[https://chat.stackexchange.com/transcript/52405?m=41303127#41303127 APL Cultivation]
* [https://chat.stackexchange.com/transcript/52405?m=41303127#41303127 APL Cultivation]
 
* [https://nbviewer.jupyter.org/github/Dyalog/dyalog-jupyter-notebooks/blob/master/Random%20Numbers.ipynb Jupyter Notebook]


=== Documentation ===
=== Documentation ===


[http://help.dyalog.com/latest/Content/Language/Primitive%20Functions/Roll.htm Dyalog]
* [http://help.dyalog.com/latest/Content/Language/Primitive%20Functions/Roll.htm Dyalog]


[http://microapl.com/apl_help/ch_020_020_170.htm APLX]
* [http://microapl.com/apl_help/ch_020_020_170.htm APLX]


J [https://www.jsoftware.com/help/dictionary/d640.htm Dictionary], [https://code.jsoftware.com/wiki/Vocabulary/query NuVoc]
* [https://www.jsoftware.com/help/dictionary/d640.htm J Dictionary], [https://code.jsoftware.com/wiki/Vocabulary/query J NuVoc]

Revision as of 19:52, 29 October 2019

Template:Primitive is a monadic scalar function which returns random or pseudo-random numbers. Each scalar in the argument must be a positive integer, n, and Roll chooses one of the first n indices. Some dialects allow n to be zero, in which case Roll chooses a floating-point number between 0 and 1.

Examples

      ? 4 ⍴ 6                   ⍝ Roll four six-sided dice
1 4 1 1
      ? 3 2 1 0                 ⍝ The result for 1 is always 1
2 2 1 0.9637543707
      {⍵[?8⍴≢⍵]} 'Hello'        ⍝ Choose 8 random letters
eeHHHolo

Description

Each scalar in the argument to Roll must be a positive integer.

The result of Roll on each number n is either

  • One of the elements of ⍳n chosen uniformly at random; or
  • A real number between 0 and 1 chosen uniformly at random, if n is 0 and the dialect has this extension.

Because Iota depends on index origin, Roll depends on index origin unless every number in the argument is 0.

The choices made by Roll do not have to be truly random: they may be pseudorandom (generated by a deterministic but difficult to predict algorithm) or taken from the operating system. They way random numbers are generated is controlled by the random link ⎕RL.

External links

Lessons

Documentation