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Generate Random numbers uniformly over entire range

Anonymous User198207-May-2013
Hi All!

I need to generate random numbers with in specified interval [max,min]

Also the random numbers should be uniformly distributed over interval, not located to particular point

Currenly I am generating as:

for(int i=0;i<6;i++)
{
DWORD random= rand()%(max-min+1) + min;
}
From my tests random numbers are generated around one point only

Example
min= 3604607;
max= 7654607;
Random numbers generated:

3631594
3609293
3630000
3628441
3636376
3621404
Edit (added from answers below): Ok RAND_MAX is 32767. I am on C++ windows platform.. Is there any other method to generate random numbers with uniform distribution?

Thanks in advance! 

visual c++visual c++ 
Updated on 07-May-2013
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1 Answers

AVADHESH PATEL

AVADHESH PATEL

07-May-2013
Hi Tanuj!

Generally, the high bits show a better distribution than the low bits, so the recommended way to generate random numbers of a range for simple purposes is:

((double) rand() / (RAND_MAX+1)) * (max-min+1) + min
Note: make sure RAND_MAX+1 does not overflow! (Thanks Demi)

the division generates a random number from the interval [0, 1), "stretch" this to the required range. Only when max-min+1 gets close to RAND_MAX you need a "BigRand()" function like posted by Mark Ransom.

This also avoids some slicing problems due to the modulo, which can worsen your numbers even more.

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