Math.random() explanation
int randomWithRange(int min, int max)
{
int range = (max - min) + 1;
return (int)(Math.random() * range) + min;
}
Output of randomWithRange(2, 5)
10 times:
5
2
3
3
2
4
4
4
5
4
The bounds are inclusive, ie [2,5], and min
must be less than max
in the above example.
EDIT: If someone was going to try and be stupid and reverse min
and max
, you could change the code to:
int randomWithRange(int min, int max)
{
int range = Math.abs(max - min) + 1;
return (int)(Math.random() * range) + (min <= max ? min : max);
}
EDIT2: For your question about double
s, it's just:
double randomWithRange(double min, double max)
{
double range = (max - min);
return (Math.random() * range) + min;
}
And again if you want to idiot-proof it it's just:
double randomWithRange(double min, double max)
{
double range = Math.abs(max - min);
return (Math.random() * range) + (min <= max ? min : max);
}
If you want to generate a number from 0 to 100, then your code would look like this:
(int)(Math.random() * 101);
To generate a number from 10 to 20 :
(int)(Math.random() * 11 + 10);
In the general case:
(int)(Math.random() * ((upperbound - lowerbound) + 1) + lowerbound);
(where lowerbound
is inclusive and upperbound
exclusive).
The inclusion or exclusion of upperbound
depends on your choice.
Let's say range = (upperbound - lowerbound) + 1
then upperbound
is inclusive, but if range = (upperbound - lowerbound)
then upperbound
is exclusive.
Example: If I want an integer between 3-5, then if range is (5-3)+1 then 5 is inclusive, but if range is just (5-3) then 5 is exclusive.