Math.random() symbol not found error?

[thejwal pavithran]

public class Random
{
	public static void main(String[] args)
	{
		double i = Math.random()*5;
		System.out.println(i);
	}
}

When I compile the above program in jcreator IDE, there are no errors and there is succesful compilation and when i write it in TextPad and compile it from the command line, I get a compile error which says Math.random() not found

What is my mistake here? please help.

[Matthew Brown]

Do you have a Math class of your own hanging around? That's one possible cause. The compiler could be trying to use that instead of java.lang.Math, and if your class doesn't have a random() method it will fail with that error.

[thejwal pavithran]

Matthew Brown wrote:Do you have a Math class of your own hanging around? That's one possible cause. The compiler could be trying to use that instead of java.lang.Math, and if your class doesn't have a random() method it will fail with that error.

Bang on!!

there was a Math.class in the classes folder. deleted it and got it working. thank you

[Campbell Ritchie]

Probably better to work out how to use a java.util.Random object. It’s much more versatile than Math.random().

[Matthew Brown]

Campbell Ritchie wrote:Probably better to work out how to use a java.util.Random object. It’s much more versatile than Math.random().

But if you do, watch out for the same problem again since you've got a Random class!

(It's generally a good idea to avoid having classes with the same name as core Java classes, especially commonly used ones.)