random(1)                                                         random(1)

NAME
     random - generates a random number

SYNOPSIS
     random [-s] [scale]

DESCRIPTION
     random generates a random number, scale, on the standard output, and
     returns the number as its exit value. By default, this number is
     either 0 or 1. If scale is given a value between 1 and 255, then the
     range of the random value is from 0 to scale. If scale is greater than
     255, an error message is printed.

     When the -s (silent) option is given, then the random number is
     returned as an exit value, but is not printed on the standard output.
     If an error occurs, random returns an exit value of zero.

NOTES
     This command does not perform any floating point computations. random
     uses the time of day as a seed.

SEE ALSO
     rand(3C).
































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