rand(3C)            (C Programming Language Utilities)             rand(3C)


   NAME
         rand, srand - simple random-number generator

   SYNOPSIS
         #include <stdlib.h>

         int rand (void);

         void srand (unsigned int seed);

   DESCRIPTION
         rand uses a multiplicative congruential random-number generator with
         period 2^32 that returns successive pseudo-random numbers in the
         range from 0 to (2^15)-1.

         The function srand uses the argument seed as a seed for a new
         sequence of pseudo-random numbers to be returned by subsequent calls
         to the function rand.  If the function srand is then called with the
         same seed value, the sequence of pseudo-random numbers will be
         repeated.  If the function rand is called before any calls to srand
         have been made, the same sequence will be generated as when srand is
         first called with a seed value of 1.

   NOTES
         The spectral properties of rand are limited.  drand48(3C) provides a
         much better, though more elaborate, random-number generator.

   SEE ALSO
         drand48(3C).
























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