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Generating Random Numbers

For Beginners

Started by PaulB August 03, 2001 11:14 PM

1 comment, last by PaulB 22 years, 8 months ago

PaulB

122

Author

August 03, 2001 11:14 PM

Is there a way to generate random numbers in c++?

gmcbay

130

August 03, 2001 11:33 PM

The real answer is...no. Computers can''t generate random numbers without some external input (and even then, whether the numbers are random depends upon your philosophical view of the world).

But the practical answer is, yes, there''s an easy way to generate random numbers.

Look here for more information on the rand() function.

Midnight Coder

122

August 04, 2001 12:20 PM

Yes, you can generate 'pseudo-random' numbers using the rand() function. But, if you just use rand() you'll always get the same numbers each time the program runs. So, at the start of the program or somewhere, you should call srand(). You should probably do something like this:

    int randomnum;srand(time(NULL));//You can get a random number like this:randomnum = rand();//Or, you could get a number within a certain range like this:randomnum = rand() % MAX_RANGE;

Edited by - Midnight Coder on August 4, 2001 1:20:35 PM