Testing the tests: using pseudorandom number generators to improve empirical tests.

Paul Leopardi (MSI, ANU)

MSI Computational Mathematics Seminar Series

DATE: 2008-06-27
TIME: 15:00:00 - 16:00:00
LOCATION: John Dedman 1177
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ABSTRACT:
A number of pseudorandom number generators are now good enough that they can be used to find errors in the implementation of empirical tests. This talk describes how simple techniques were used to find and fix errors and inaccuracies in the implementation of the Run test and the OPSO, OQSO and DNA serial tests of the TestU01 test package.

Some of the inaccuracies in the serial tests are related to the difference between the statistics of words in strings and the equivalent statistics of words in cycles.
BIO:
http://www.maths.anu.edu.au/~leopardi