Adventures in
Python: Generating Random Numbers
This program generates a list of random numbers between 0
and 1, using the pseudo-random number generator frac((π + t)^5).
To use a pseudo-random number generator, you will need an
initial seed. This program uses the fractional
part of the number of ticks from January 1, 1970. To get ticks, you will need to import the
time module. Call the number of ticks by
the time.time() function.
Python has no native fractional part. To extract the fractional part of a number,
the following formula is required, where t
is any variable:
t = t – math.trunc(t)
The function math.trunc(t)
truncates t and returns the integer part.
Keep in mind, to generate n
items, use the for loop with the in
range(0, n-1).
# Program 006 -
Random Number Generation
print("Random
number generation")
# import time, use
as a seed
import time
t = time.time()
print
# since t is a
floating number
# lets import math
and use
# math.trunc
import math
t = t -
math.trunc(t)
# We are going to
use a psuedo-random
# formula to
generate n numbers. n
# will be an integer
as range requires.
n =
int(input("How many random numbers?"))
for k in
range(0,n-1):
t = (math.pi + t)**5
t = t - math.trunc(t)
print(t)
Output (15 numbers generated):
Random
number generation
How many
random numbers?15
0.8619577822222482
0.5526325838995945
0.045018018769951595
0.5829554424582284
0.7503835409480644
0.9988016770092827
0.770091723446285
0.8387765088751848
0.11795716208871454
0.9494124177641083
0.9088916269388392
0.2717401531838277
0.3329376152682926
0.38460892637095867
(your answers will vary)
Eddie
This blog is property of Edward Shore, 2017.