dice randomization

I know there are 36 ways the dice can come up. My question is which of the following would represent the more accurate way of randomizing a dice throw.

a random number generator of 1 -36 with each number corresponding to the one of the 36 dice rolls.
or
a random number generator of 1-6 for die 1 and 1-6 for dice 2 then adding them together.

I have seen these options on some craps applications and was curious to know which is the more realistic way of throwing dice.
It would seem that either would work the same.

Jeff

They are both equally fine. I have a lot of programs that involve simulations of the roll of two dice. In the interests of program purity, I draw two independent random numbers for each die and add them together. When computers were slower, I could see drawing just one random number and mapping it to a 36-position array, representing the total, but millions of random numbers can be drawn in a second now, so speed is not an issue for most intents and purposes.

Quote: Wizard

They are both equally fine.

agree,
except beware of programs known to produce poor quality random numbers, like Excel 2010 and earlier. at least there are macros for Excel that solve that Microsoft problem.


Yahoo!!
Sally

Quote: mustangsally

agree,
except beware of programs known to produce poor quality random numbers, like Excel 2010 and earlier. at least there are macros for Excel that solve that Microsoft problem.


Yahoo!!
Sally

Obviously the Excel RNG programmers believed in dice influence. ;-)

Quote: jrmaag

a random number generator of 1 -36 with each number corresponding to the one of the 36 dice rolls.

That’s what I do.

Quote: mustangsally

agree,
except beware of programs known to produce poor quality random numbers, like Excel 2010 and earlier. at least there are macros for Excel that solve that Microsoft problem.


Yahoo!!
Sally

I have also heard that Excel is no good for random numbers. So I won’t argue that point.

However, 360 rolls, as illustrated in that graph, is way too small of a sample to prove anything. Just saying…



But I agree that if you’re using a good RNG, that it doesn’t matter which way you do it.

Quote: jrmaag

I have seen these options on some craps applications
and was curious to know which is the more realistic way of throwing dice.

It may be because some think it does matter one way
or the other
and they are trying to make all happy.
*****
I remember card craps at Soboba Casino in SoCal, and their deck of cards were (may still be)
the 36 ways the dice can land face up.
The shuffle machine did it's shuffle and the box placed 2 cards on the table, face down.
The elected 'shooter' pointed to and said which card was the roll.

Of course, card craps is not craps with dice
but keeping your eyes closed, one could not tell the difference by the result, at least eye could knots

I have yet to see any card craps in Nevada.
most know of bubble craps and that can really be fun!
Sally