rand(3C)               UNIX System V(C Development Set)                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 congruent 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).


























10/89                                                                    Page 1