CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++
Ilyssis
Ilyssis

Reputation: 4949

C++ random number 1-9

I need random numbers from 1 to 9 (without 0).

//numbers 0 to 9
int iRand = rand() % 10;

But I need 1 to 9.

Thanks.

Upvotes: 1

Views: 40291

Answers (6)

Schultz9999
Schultz9999

Reputation: 8946

Regardless that the answer is picked, modulo based ranging is biased. You can find that all over the internet. So if you really care about that then you have to do a bit more than that (assume arc4random() return a 4 byte integer):

#define NUMBER 9.0
#define RANDOM() (((int)(arc4random() / (float)0xffffffff * (float)NUMBER) + 1) % (NUMBER + 1))

I leave it to you to figure out the correct syntax since you sound like a quite capable developer.

Upvotes: 0

Lightness Races in Orbit
Lightness Races in Orbit

Reputation: 385405

To initialize the random number generator call srand(time(0)); Then, to set the integer x to a value between low (inclusive) and high (exclusive):

int x = int(floor(rand() / (RAND_MAX + 1.0) * (high-low) + low));

The floor() is not necessary if high and low are both non-negative.

Using modulus (%) for random numbers is not advisable, as you don't tend to get much variation in the low-order bits so you'll find a very weak distribution.

Upvotes: 1

GManNickG
GManNickG

Reputation: 504333

Well, you know how to get a random integer in the range [0, x], right? That's:

rand() % (x + 1)

In your case, you've set x to 9, giving you rand() % 10. So how can you manipulate a range to get to 1-9? Well, since 0 is the minimum value coming out of this random number generator scheme, we know we'll need to add one to have a minimum of one:

rand() % (x + 1) + 1

Now you get the range [1, x + 1]. If that's suppose to be [1, 9], then x must be 8, giving:

rand() % 9 + 1

That's how you should think about these things.

Upvotes: 8

aronp
aronp

Reputation: 799

How about

int iRand = (rand() % 9) + 1;

doh beaten by seconds

Upvotes: 0

Cameron
Cameron

Reputation: 98886

Try:

int iRand = 1 + rand() % 9;

It works by taking a random number from 0 to 8, then adding one to it (though I wrote those operations in the opposite order in the code -- which you do first comes down to personal preference).

Note that % has higher precedence than +, so parentheses aren't necessary (but may improve readability).

Upvotes: 1

Oliver Charlesworth
Oliver Charlesworth

Reputation: 272832

Just this:

int iRand = (rand() % 9) + 1;

Upvotes: 17

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