Math.random() explanation

Question

This is a pretty simple Java (though probably applicable to all programming) question:

Math.random() returns a number between zero and on

Answer 1

If you want to generate a number from 0 to 100, then your code would look like this:

(int)(Math.random() * 101);

To generate a number from 10 to 20 :

(int)(Math.random() * 11 + 10);

In the general case:

(int)(Math.random() * ((upperbound - lowerbound) + 1) + lowerbound);

(where lowerbound is inclusive and upperbound exclusive).

The inclusion or exclusion of upperbound depends on your choice. Let's say range = (upperbound - lowerbound) + 1 then upperbound is inclusive, but if range = (upperbound - lowerbound) then upperbound is exclusive.

Example: If I want an integer between 3-5, then if range is (5-3)+1 then 5 is inclusive, but if range is just (5-3) then 5 is exclusive.