Building Java Programs

Chapter 5
Lecture 5-2: Random Numbers

reading: 5.1, 5.6

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http://xkcd.com/221/

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 Randomness
 Lack of predictability: don't know what's coming next

 Random process: outcomes do not follow a deterministic

pattern (math, statistics, probability)

 Lack of bias or correlation (statistics)

 Relevant in lots of fields

 Genetic mutations (biology)
 Quantum processes (physics)
 Random walk hypothesis (finance)
 Cryptography (computer science)
 Game theory (mathematics)
 Determinism (religion)
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 Pseudo-Randomness
Computers generate numbers in a predictable way using a
mathematical formula

Parameters may include current time, mouse position

 In practice, hard to predict or replicate

True randomness uses natural processes

 Atmospheric noise (http://www.random.org/)
 Lava lamps (patent #5732138)
 Radioactive decay

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 The Random class
A Random object generates pseudo-random numbers.
 Class Random is found in the java.util package.
import java.util.*;
Method name Description
nextInt() returns a random integer
nextInt(max) returns a random integer in the range [0, max)
in other words, 0 to max-1 inclusive
nextDouble() returns a random real number in the range [0.0, 1.0)

 Example:

Random rand = new Random();

int randomNumber = rand.nextInt(10); // 0-9

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 Generating random numbers
Common usage: to get a random number from 1 to N

int n = rand.nextInt(20) + 1; // 1-20 inclusive

To get a number in arbitrary range [min, max] inclusive:

name.nextInt(size of range) + min

 Where size of range is (max - min + 1)

 Example: A random integer between 4 and 10 inclusive:

int n = rand.nextInt(7) + 4;

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 Random questions
Given the following declaration, how would you get:
Random rand = new Random();

 A random number between 1 and 47 inclusive?

int random1 = rand.nextInt(47) + 1;

 A random number between 23 and 30 inclusive?

int random2 = rand.nextInt(8) + 23;

 A random even number between 4 and 12 inclusive?

int random3 = rand.nextInt(5) * 2 + 4;

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 Random and other types
nextDouble method returns a double between 0.0 - 1.0
 Example: Get a random GPA value between 1.5 and 4.0:
double randomGpa = rand.nextDouble() * 2.5 + 1.5;

Any set of possible values can be mapped to integers

 code to randomly play Rock-Paper-Scissors:

int r = rand.nextInt(3);
if (r == 0) {
System.out.println("Rock");
} else if (r == 1) {
System.out.println("Paper");
} else { // r == 2
System.out.println("Scissors");
}

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 Random question
Write a program that simulates rolling of two 6-sided dice
until their combined result comes up as 7.
2 + 4 = 6
3 + 5 = 8
5 + 6 = 11
1 + 1 = 2
4 + 3 = 7
You won after 5 tries!

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 Random answer
// Rolls two dice until a sum of 7 is reached.
import java.util.*;
public class Dice {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Random rand = new Random();
int tries = 0;
int sum = 0;
while (sum != 7) {
// roll the dice once
int roll1 = rand.nextInt(6) + 1;
int roll2 = rand.nextInt(6) + 1;
sum = roll1 + roll2;
System.out.println(roll1 + " + " + roll2 + " = " + sum);
tries++;
}
System.out.println("You won after " + tries + " tries!");
}
}

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 Point objects
Java has a class of objects named Point.
 They store two values, an (x, y) pair, in a single variable.
 They have useful methods we can call in our programs.
 To use Point, you must write:
import java.awt.*;

Two ways to construct a Point object:

Point name = new Point(x, y);

Point name = new Point(); // the origin (0, 0)
 Examples:
Point p1 = new Point(5, -2);
Point p2 = new Point();

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 Point data and methods
Data stored in each Point object:
Field name Description
x the point's x-coordinate
y the point's y-coordinate

Methods of each Point object:

Method name Description
distance(p) how far away the point is from point p
setLocation(x, y) sets the point's x and y to the given values
translate(dx, dy) adjusts the point's x and y by the given amounts

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 Random drawing question
Write a program that draws 100x100 rectangles at random
(x, y) positions within a 500x500 DrawingPanel.

The rectangles' color should be randomly chosen between

red, green, and blue.

Print how far away the upper left corner of the rectangle is
from the middle of the screen

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 Random drawing question
Modify the rectangle program to draw randomly placed/
colored 10x10 rectangles until it draws 20 red ones.
 Break up your program using static methods.
 Print a line of output each time a red rectangle is drawn:

Drew red #1 at (120, 312)

Drew red #2 at (285, 337)
Drew red #3 at (410, 251)
Drew red #4 at (15, 372)
Drew red #5 at (61, 248)

 Make the DrawingPanel animate by calling its sleep method

between each rectangle drawn. 14
 Random question
Write a program that plays an adding game.
 Ask user to solve random adding problems with 2-5 numbers.
 The user gets 1 point for a correct answer, 0 for incorrect.
 The program stops after 3 incorrect answers.

4 + 10 + 3 + 10 = 27
9 + 2 = 11
8 + 6 + 7 + 9 = 25
Wrong! The answer was 30
5 + 9 = 13
Wrong! The answer was 14
4 + 9 + 9 = 22
3 + 1 + 7 + 2 = 13
4 + 2 + 10 + 9 + 7 = 42
Wrong! The answer was 32
You earned 4 total points.

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 Random answer
// Asks the user to do adding problems and scores them.
import java.util.*;

public class AddingGame {

public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
Random rand = new Random();

// play until user gets 3 wrong

int points = 0;
int wrong = 0;
while (wrong < 3) {
int result = play(console, rand); // play one game
if (result == 0) {
wrong++;
} else {
points++;
}
}

System.out.println("You earned " + points + " total points.");

}

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 Random answer 2
...
// Builds one addition problem and presents it to the user.
// Returns 1 point if you get it right, 0 if wrong.
public static int play(Scanner console, Random rand) {
// print the operands being added, and sum them
int operands = rand.nextInt(4) + 2;
int sum = rand.nextInt(10) + 1;
System.out.print(sum);
for (int i = 2; i <= operands; i++) {
int n = rand.nextInt(10) + 1;
sum += n;
System.out.print(" + " + n);
}
System.out.print(" = ");
// read user's guess and report whether it was correct
int guess = console.nextInt();
if (guess == sum) {
return 1;
} else {
System.out.println("Wrong! The answer was " + total);
return 0;
}
}
} 17