Generating Random Numbers

Generating Random Numbers
The key function in generating random numbers is;

 int random (int n);

which generates a random number in the range of 0 to n-1. For example;

 y = random(100);

y will be in the range of 0 though 99.
Note that if you run the following program, again and again, the same three random numbers will be generated. That is, TurboC always seeds the random number generator with the same starting number.
This feature is great for debugging. However, it would terrible if you were designing software for the gaming industry as everyone would know what numbers were going to come up.
Therefore, the function "randomize()" may be used to seed the random number generator with a number which is developed from the system clock, which of course, is always changing.

/*
** Program RANDOM1.C
**
** Generates three random numbers in range of 0 to 99 and
** reports as to which is the largest and which is the smallest.
**
** Intended to show the use of functions randomize(), random() anf the
** use of functions.
**
** Peter H. Anderson, MSU, Feb 6, '97
*/

#include 
#include  /* required for randomize() and random() */
#include   /* required for clrscr() */

int gen_rand(void);   /* note these are declarations of functions */
int find_max(int x, int y, int z);
int find_min(int x, int y, int z);

FILE *f1;

void main(void)
{
   int num1, num2, num3, max, min;

   clrscr();  /* clear the screen */

   f1=fopen("a:\\output.dta", "wt"); /* open a file for output */

   /* randomize(); */  /* uncomment this if you want a random start */

   num1=gen_rand();
   num2=gen_rand();
   num3=gen_rand();

   max=find_max(num1, num2, num3);
   min=find_min(num1, num2, num3);

   printf("Random numbers are %d, %d, and %d\n", num1, num2, num3);
   fprintf(f1, "Random numbers are %d, %d, and %d\n", num1, num2, num3);

   printf("Largest is %d.  Smallest is %d.\n", max, min);
   fprintf(f1, "Largest is %d.  Smallest is %d.\n", max, min);

   fclose(f1);
}

int gen_rand(void)
/* returns random number in range of 0 to 99 */
{
   int n;
   n=random(100);  /* n is random number in range of 0 - 99 */
   return(n);
}

int find_max( int x, int y, int z)
/* returns largest number */
{
   int max;
   if ((x>=y) && (x>=z))
   {
  max = x;
   }
   else if ((y>=x) && (y>=z))
   {
  max = y;
   }
   else
   {
  max = z;
   }
   return(max);
}

int find_min( int x, int y, int z)
/* returns smallest number */
{
   int min;
   if ((x<=y) && (x<=z))
   {
  min = x;
   }
   else if ((y<=x) && (y<=z))
   {
  min = y;
   }
   else
   {
  min = y;
   }
   return(min);
}