A combined linear congruential generator (CLCG) is a pseudo-random number generator algorithm based on combining two or more linear congruential generators (LCG). A traditional LCG has a period which is inadequate for complex system simulation.^[1] By combining two or more LCGs, random numbers with a longer period and better statistical properties can be created.^[1] The algorithm is defined as:^[2]

${\displaystyle X_{i}\equiv \left(\sum _{j=1}^{k}(-1)^{j-1}Y_{i,j}\right){\pmod {m_{1}-1}}}$

where:

${\displaystyle m_{1}}$ is the "modulus" of the first LCG

${\displaystyle Y_{i,j}}$ is the i^th input from the j^th LCG

${\displaystyle X_{i}}$ is the i^th generated random integer

with:

${\displaystyle R_{i}\equiv {\begin{cases}X_{i}/m_{1}&{\text{for }}X_{i}>0\\(m_{1}-1)/m_{1}&{\text{for }}X_{i}=0\end{cases}}}$

where ${\displaystyle R_{i}}$ is a uniformly distributed random number between 0 and 1.

Derivation

If W_i,1, W_i,2, ..., W_i,k are any independent, discrete, random-variables and one of them is uniformly distributed from 0 to m₁ − 2, then Z_i is uniformly distributed between 0 and m₁ − 2, where:^[2]

${\displaystyle Z_{i}=\left(\sum _{j=1}^{k}W_{i,j}\right){\pmod {m_{1}-1}}}$

Let X_i,1, X_i,2, ..., X_i,k be outputs from k LCGs. If W_i,j is defined as X_i,j − 1, then W_i,j will be approximately uniformly distributed from 0 to m_j − 1.^[2] The coefficient "(−1)^j−1" implicitly performs the subtraction of one from X_i,j.^[1]

Properties

The CLCG provides an efficient way to calculate pseudo-random numbers. The LCG algorithm is computationally inexpensive to use.^[3] The results of multiple LCG algorithms are combined through the CLCG algorithm to create pseudo-random numbers with a longer period than is achievable with the LCG method by itself.^[3]

The period of a CLCG is the least common multiple of the periods of the individual generators, which are one less than the moduli. Since all the moduli are odd primes, the periods are even and thus share at least a common divisor of 2, but if the moduli are chosen so that 2 is the greatest common divisor of each pair, this will result in a period of:^[1]

${\displaystyle P={\frac {(m_{1}-1)(m_{2}-1)\cdots (m_{k}-1)}{2^{k-1}}}}$

Example

The following is an example algorithm designed for use in 32-bit computers:^[2]

${\displaystyle k=2}$

LCGs are used with the following properties:

${\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}a_{1}&=40014&a_{2}&=40692\\m_{1}&=2147483563&m_{2}&=2147483399\\c_{1}&=0&c_{2}&=0\end{aligned}}}$

The CLCG algorithm is set up as follows:

1. The seed for the first LCG, ${\displaystyle Y_{0,1}}$, should be selected in the range of [1, 2147483562].

The seed for the second LCG, ${\displaystyle Y_{0,2}}$, should be selected in the range of [1, 2147483398].

Set: ${\displaystyle i=0}$

2. The two LCGs are evaluated as follows:

${\displaystyle Y_{i+1,1}=40014\times Y_{i,1}{\pmod {2147483563}}}$

${\displaystyle Y_{i+1,2}=40692\times Y_{i,2}{\pmod {2147483399}}}$

3. The CLCG equation is solved as shown below:

${\displaystyle X_{i+1}=(Y_{i+1,1}-Y_{i+1,2}){\pmod {2147483563}}}$

4. Calculate the random number:

${\displaystyle R_{i+1}={\begin{cases}X_{i+1}/2147483563&{\text{for }}X_{i+1}>0\\(X_{i+1}/2147483563)+1&{\text{for }}X_{i+1}<0\\2147483562/2147483563&{\text{for }}X_{i+1}=0\end{cases}}}$

5. Increment the counter (i = i + 1) then return to step 2 and repeat.

The maximum period of the two LCGs used is calculated using the formula:.^[1]

${\displaystyle (m-1)}$

This equates to 2.1×10⁹ for the two LCGs used.

This CLCG shown in this example has a maximum period of:

${\displaystyle (m_{1}-1)(m_{2}-1)/2\approx 2.3\times 10^{18}}$

This represents a tremendous improvement over the period of the individual LCGs. It can be seen that the combined method increases the period by 9 orders of magnitude.

Surprisingly the period of this CLCG may not be sufficient for all applications.^[1] Other algorithms using the CLCG method have been used to create pseudo-random number generators with periods as long as 3×10⁵⁷.^[4][5][6]

See also

• Linear congruential generator
• Wichmann–Hill, a specific combined LCG proposed in 1982

References

External links

• An overview of use and testing of pseudo-random number generators