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Dev C++ Random Number Generator

 

C It is often useful to generate random numbers to produce simulations or games (or homework problems:) One way to generate these numbers in C is to use the function rand. Rand is defined as: #include int rand; The rand function takes no arguments and returns an integer that is a pseudo-random number between 0 and RANDMAX. Generate Random Numbers in C To generate random numbers in C programming, use the function rand to generate and print random numbers. And if you want to generate different-different random numbers at each time when you compile and run the same program, then use the function srand before generating the random numbers using the function rand as shown.

< cpp‎ numeric‎ random‎ random device
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double entropy()constnoexcept;
(since C++11)

Obtains an estimate of the random number device entropy, which is a floating-point value between 0 and log
2
(max()+1)
(which is equal to std::numeric_limits<unsignedint>::digits). If the device has n states whose individual probabilities are P
0
,..,P
n-1
, the device entropy S is defined as

S = -Σn-1
i=0
P
i
log(P
i
)

A deterministic random number generator (e.g. a pseudo-random engine) has entropy zero.

[edit]Return value

The value of the device entropy, or zero if not applicable.

[edit]Notes

This function is not fully implemented in some standard libraries. For example, LLVM libc++ always returns zero even though the device is non-deterministic. In comparison, Microsoft Visual C++ implementation always returns 32, and boost.random returns 10.

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The entropy of the Linux kernel device /dev/urandom may be obtained using ioctl RNDGETENTCNT - that's what std::random_device::entropy() in GNU libstdc++ uses as of version 8.1

[edit]Example

Example output on one of the implementations

Possible output:

Range

C++ Random Number Generator Range

Retrieved from 'https://en.cppreference.com/mwiki/index.php?title=cpp/numeric/random/random_device/entropy&oldid=105420'

Random number generators fulfill a number of purposes. Everything from games to simulations require a random number generator to work properly. Randomness finds its way into business what-if scenarios as well. In short, you need to add random output to your application in many situations.

Creating a random number isn’t hard. All you need to do is call a random number function as shown in the RandomNumberGenerator example:

Actually, not one of the random number generators in the Standard Library works properly — imagine that! They are all pseudorandom number generators: The numbers are distributed such that it appears that you see a random sequence, but given enough time and patience, eventually the sequence repeats.

C++ Random Number Generator Range

In fact, if you don’t set a seed value for your random number generator, you can obtain predictable sequences of numbers every time. How boring. Here is typical output from this example:

The first line of code in main() sets the seed by using the system time. Using the system time ensures a certain level of randomness in the starting value — and therefore a level of randomness for your application as a whole. If you comment out this line of code, you see the same output every time you run the application.

The example application uses rand() to create the random value. When you take the modulus of the random number, you obtain an output that is within a specific range — 12 in this case. The example ends by adding 1 to the random number because there isn’t any month 0 in the calendar, and then outputs the month number for you.

The Standard Library provides access to two types of pseudorandom number generators. The first type requires that you set a seed value. The second type requires that you provide an input value with each call and doesn’t require a seed value. Each generator outputs a different data type, so you can choose the kind of random number you obtain.

The table lists the random number generators and tells you what data type they output.

C++ Random Number Generator Loop

Pseudorandom Number Generator Functions
FunctionOutput TypeSeed Required?
randintegeryes
drand48doubleyes
erand48doubleno
lrand48longyes
nrand48longno
mrand48signed longyes
jrand48signed longno

Now that you know about the pseudorandom number generators, look at the seed functions used to prime them. The following table lists the seed functions and their associated pseudorandom number generator functions.

Seed Functions
FunctionAssociated Pseudorandom Number Generator Function
srandrand
srand48drand48
seed48mrand48
lcong48lrand48