rand(3C-BSD)      MISC. REFERENCE MANUAL PAGES       rand(3C-BSD)



NAME
     rand, srand - simple random number generator

SYNOPSIS
     cc [ flag... ] file ... -lucb
     srand(seed)
     int seed;
     rand()

DESCRIPTION
     rand uses a multiplicative congruential random  number  gen-
     erator  with period 2**32 to return successive pseudo-random
     numbers in the range from 0  to  (2**31)-1.   srand  can  be
     called at any time to reset the random-number generator to a
     random starting point.  The generator  is  initially  seeded
     with a value of 1.

SEE ALSO
     random(3).  drand48(2), drand(3C),  rand(3C),  srand(3C)  in
     the Programmer's Reference Manual.

NOTES
     The spectral properties of rand leave a  great  deal  to  be
     desired.   drand48(2)  and  random(3)  provide  much better,
     though more elaborate, random-number  generators.   The  low
     bits  of  the numbers generated are not very random; use the
     middle  bits.   In  particular  the  lowest  bit  alternates
     between 0 and 1.



























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