Building Java Programs
Chapter 5
Lecture 5-2: Random Numbers
reading: 5.1, 5.6
1
http://xkcd.com/221/
2
Randomness
Lack of predictability: don't know what's coming next
Random process: outcomes do not follow a deterministic
pattern (math, statistics, probability)
Lack of bias or correlation (statistics)
Relevant in lots of fields
Genetic mutations (biology)
Quantum processes (physics)
Random walk hypothesis (finance)
Cryptography (computer science)
Game theory (mathematics)
Determinism (religion) 3
Pseudo-Randomness
Computers generate numbers in a predictable way using
a mathematical formula
Parameters may include current time, mouse position
In practice, hard to predict or replicate
True randomness uses natural processes
Atmospheric noise (http://www.random.org/)
Lava lamps (patent #5732138)
Radioactive decay
4
The Random class
A Random object generates pseudo-random numbers.
Class Random is found in the java.util package.
import java.util.*;
Method name Description
nextInt() returns a random integer
nextInt(max) returns a random integer in the range [0, max)
in other words, 0 to max-1 inclusive
nextDouble() returns a random real number in the range [0.0, 1.0)
Example:
Random rand = new Random();
int randomNumber = rand.nextInt(10); // 0-9
5
Generating random numbers
Common usage: to get a random number from 1 to N
int n = rand.nextInt(20) + 1; // 1-20 inclusive
To get a number in arbitrary range [min, max] inclusive:
name.nextInt(size of range) + min
Where size of range is (max - min + 1)
Example: A random integer between 4 and 10 inclusive:
int n = rand.nextInt(7) + 4;
6
Random questions
Given the following declaration, how would you get:
Random rand = new Random();
A random number between 1 and 47 inclusive?
int random1 = rand.nextInt(47) + 1;
A random number between 23 and 30 inclusive?
int random2 = rand.nextInt(8) + 23;
A random even number between 4 and 12 inclusive?
int random3 = rand.nextInt(5) * 2 + 4;
7
Random and other types
nextDouble method returns a double between 0.0 - 1.0
Example: Get a random GPA value between 1.5 and 4.0:
double randomGpa = rand.nextDouble() * 2.5 + 1.5;
Any set of possible values can be mapped to integers
code to randomly play Rock-Paper-Scissors:
int r = rand.nextInt(3);
if (r == 0) {
System.out.println("Rock");
} else if (r == 1) {
System.out.println("Paper");
} else { // r == 2
System.out.println("Scissors");
}
8
Random question
Write a program that simulates rolling two 6-sided dice
until their combined result comes up as 7.
2 + 4 = 6
3 + 5 = 8
5 + 6 = 11
1 + 1 = 2
4 + 3 = 7
You won after 5 tries!
9
Random answer
// Rolls two dice until a sum of 7 is reached.
import java.util.*;
public class Dice {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Random rand = new Random();
int tries = 0;
int sum = 0;
while (sum != 7) {
// roll the dice once
int roll1 = rand.nextInt(6) + 1;
int roll2 = rand.nextInt(6) + 1;
sum = roll1 + roll2;
System.out.println(roll1 + " + " + roll2 + " = " + sum);
tries++;
}
System.out.println("You won after " + tries + " tries!");
}
}
10
Random question
Write a program that plays an adding game.
Ask user to solve random adding problems with 2-5 numbers.
The user gets 1 point for a correct answer, 0 for incorrect.
The program stops after 3 incorrect answers.
4 + 10 + 3 + 10 = 27
9 + 2 = 11
8 + 6 + 7 + 9 = 25
Wrong! The answer was 30
5 + 9 = 13
Wrong! The answer was 14
4 + 9 + 9 = 22
3 + 1 + 7 + 2 = 13
4 + 2 + 10 + 9 + 7 = 42
Wrong! The answer was 32
You earned 4 total points
11
Random answer
// Asks the user to do adding problems and scores them.
import java.util.*;
public class AddingGame {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
Random rand = new Random();
// play until user gets 3 wrong
int points = 0;
int wrong = 0;
while (wrong < 3) {
int result = play(console, rand); // play one game
if (result == 0) {
wrong++;
} else {
points++;
}
}
System.out.println("You earned " + points + " total points.");
}
12
Random answer 2
...
// Builds one addition problem and presents it to the user.
// Returns 1 point if you get it right, 0 if wrong.
public static int play(Scanner console, Random rand) {
// print the operands being added, and sum them
int operands = rand.nextInt(4) + 2;
int sum = rand.nextInt(10) + 1;
System.out.print(sum);
for (int i = 2; i <= operands; i++) {
int n = rand.nextInt(10) + 1;
sum += n;
System.out.print(" + " + n);
}
System.out.print(" = ");
// read user's guess and report whether it was correct
int guess = console.nextInt();
if (guess == sum) {
return 1;
} else {
System.out.println("Wrong! The answer was " + total);
return 0;
}
}
} 13
