Use of Math.random

[Gina Pandher]

What is the use of Math.random in the following and also in general :
int x=(int)(Math.random() * 5)
Can anyone explain.
Thanks

[Marilyn de Queiroz]

Check out
Marilyn
[This message has been edited by Marilyn deQueiroz (edited September 26, 2000).]

[Apu Nahasapeemapetilon]

close Marilyn, you left out the text. Clickey the edit icon and see how I did it.

 <A HREF="http://www.javaranch.com" TARGET=_blank>www.javaranch.com</A> 

[This message has been edited by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon (edited September 28, 2000).]

[Anonymous]

Math.random() //generates a random number.
Math.random * 5;//multiplies it by five
(int)Math.random * 5;
//does type conversion to int, incase it may be of float type
int y = (int)Math.random * 5
// stores the value to y
if i am not mistaken Math.random generates random numbers between the range of 0 to 1. (but just check up on that again)
cheers
ak.

[Brien Hackney]

That is correct. Math.random() generates a random number from 0 to 1 with equal probability each time (uniform distribution).
[This message has been edited by Brien Hackney (edited October 12, 2000).]