[vcf-midatlantic] Random numbers

[Drew Notarnicola]

If you just generate a bunch of random numbers without doing anything to
the number (like INT() or multiplying it) what do you get?

On Fri, Apr 7, 2017 at 6:58 PM Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic <
vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:

> > I don't know why the result is always an even number, but I suspect that
> this will always return the same sequence of numbers. You have to randomize
> the seed value of the argument to the rnd function early in the program or
> it will return the same sequence of numbers every time you turn the machine
> on.
> >
> > From
> http://www.hoist-point.com/applesoft_basic_tutorial.htm#random_numbers_section
> >
> > AppleSoft BASIC RND(1) function generates a pseudo-random number between
> 0 and 1 (excluding 1). Random numbers are used in games, computer modeling
> and math applications. Let's look at small program which simulates throwing
> a dice 20 times, generating values from 1 to 6, and prints the result.
> >
> > As you run this program again and again, you notice that it generates
> exactly the same set of numbers every time. The numbers you get from RND(1)
> function aren't truly random (this is why they are called pseudo-random!):
> computer uses an algorithm to generate them, and when program restarts, the
> same algorithm produces the same sequence of values. To make it generate a
> new sequence, you must re-initialize the random number generator by calling
> RND with a negative value (called random seed). Each specific value will
> result in different random number sequence generated afterwards.
>
> Interesting! Thanks for the link.
>
> True randomness probably doesn't matter to this program because -- yet
> again -- it's just for children and the set from 1-38 is big enough that
> most people will not notice any trends.
>
> I've to solve the even numbers mystery.
>