RANDOM(1)            INTERACTIVE UNIX System            RANDOM(1)



          NAME
               random - generate a random number

          SYNOPSIS
               random [-s] [ scale ]

          DESCRIPTION
               The random command 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 stan-
               dard output.  If an error occurs, random returns an exit
               value of zero.

          SEE ALSO
               rand(3C) in the INTERACTIVE SDS Guide and Programmer's
               Reference Manual .

          NOTES
               This command does not perform any floating-point computa-
               tions.

               random uses the time of day as a seed.



























          Rev. Base System                                           Page 1