Re: random floating point!

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Article #4786

#4786

From: Stephen Baynes
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 09:04

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Daniel Williamson (D.G.Williamson@shef.ac.uk) wrote:
: Does anybody know how to generate a random floating point number. I am using 
: top speed c, for the work and the rand() function ad defined in the ansi 
: standard only goes up to 32767. I suppose I could multiply it, but I'm looking 
: for a more elegant solution to give me the full range of +ve and -ve values.
: Thanks for any help you can offer.

To be precise ANSI rand() goes up to RAND_MAX which must be at least 32767.
It can be more.

Discussion of algorithms for floating point random numbers is outside the
range of this group. I would also suggest that you read up on distributions
in a book on probability and decide what distribution you want before you
ask the question.


--
Stephen Baynes                              baynes@mulsoc2.serigate.philips.nl
Philips Semiconductors Ltd
Southampton                                 My views are my own.
United Kingdom

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Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!phcoms4.seri.philips.nl!panther!baynes
From: baynes@ukpsshp1.serigate.philips.nl (Stephen Baynes)
Subject: Re: random floating point!
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Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 09:04:23 GMT
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