Probability Problem

[Elliot Temple]

On Apr 24, 2006, at 8:24 PM, Alex Martelli wrote:

> Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo at geek-central.gen.new_zealand> wrote:
>
>> In article <mailman.4949.1145931967.27775.python-list at python.org>,
>>  Elliot Temple <curi at curi.us> wrote:
>>
>>> Problem: Randomly generate 10 integers from 0-100 inclusive, and sum
>>> them. Do that twice. What is the probability the two sums are 390  
>>> apart?
>>
>> I think the sum would come close to a normal distribution.
>
> Yes, very close indeed, by the law of large numbers.
>
> However, very close (in a math course at least) doesn't get the cigar.
>
> You can compute the requested answer exactly with no random number
> generation whatsoever: compute the probability of each result from  
> 0 to
> 1000, then sum the probabilities of entries that are exactly 390  
> apart.

That was the plan, but how do I get the probability of any given  
result? (in a reasonable amount of time)

BTW I'm not in a math course, just curious.

-- Elliot Temple
http://www.curi.us/blog/