RANDOM FUNCTIONS
PYTHON RANDOM MODULE
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python
Random module in Python
• Provides a suite of functions to generate random numbers.
import random
• Includes tools to manipulate sequences randomly.
• Used in simulations, games, data analysis, and more.
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python 2
Functions for Floats
1. random()
Purpose:
Returns a random floating-point number between 0.0 and 1.0.
import random
random_float = random.random()
0.9399715548913441
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python 3
Functions for Floats
2. uniform(a, b)
Purpose:
Returns a random floating-point number between a and b.
import random
# Generate random temperatures for a week (15°C to 30°C)
weekly_temperatures = [
round(random.uniform(15.0, 30.0), 2) for _ in range(7)
]
[24.11, 23.07, 20.68, 37.42, 38.29, 17.46, 24.73]
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python 4
Functions for Floats
3. triangular(low, high, mode)
Purpose:
Returns a random floating-point number between low and high,
with an optional mode parameter for a non-uniform distribution.
import random
# Simulate customer wait times (in minutes) at a service center
wait_times = [
round(random.triangular(5, 30, 10), 2) for _ in range(5)
]
[14.49, 11.36, 12.12, 10.53, 20.37]
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python 5
Functions for Integers
1. randint(a, b)
Purpose:
Returns a random integer between two specified integers, inclusive.
import random
# Simulate rolling a dice 5 times
roll_dice = [
random.randint(1, 6) for _ in range(5)
]
[3, 6, 5, 4, 6]
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python 6
Functions for Integers
2. randrange(start, stop, step)
Purpose:
Selects a random element from the specified range.
import random
# Select a random even number between 0 and 20 (inclusive)
random_even_number = random.randrange(0, 21, 2)
# Display the result
print(f"Random even number selected: {random_even_number}")
Random even number selected: 2
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python 7
Functions for Sequences
1. choice(seq)
Purpose:
Returns a randomly selected element from a non-empty sequence.
import random
my_hobbies = ['reading', 'swimming', 'coding', 'hiking']
print(f'I love {random.choice(my_hobbies)}')
I love reading
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python 8
Functions for Sequences
2. choices(seq, weights=None, k=1)
Purpose:
Returns a list with k elements from the sequence, with optional weights to
influence selection probability.
# List of participants
participants = ["Thibault", "Camille", "Sandra", "Laurent"]
# Corresponding weights (e.g., ticket counts)
weights = [5, 1, 3, 1]
# Select a random winner based on weights
winner = random.choices(participants, weights=weights, k=1)[0]
# Display the result
print(f"The winner is: {winner}")
The winner is: Thibault
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python 9
Functions for Sequences
3. shuffle(seq, random=None)
Purpose:
Shuffles the sequence x in place.
import random
# Duolingo participants
participants = ["Zari", "Lin", "Lucie", "Junior", "Eddy",
"Oscar", "Vikram", "Duo"]
# Shuffle and split into two random teams
random.shuffle(participants)
team1, team2 = participants[:4], participants[4:]
# Display the teams
print("Team 1:", team1)
print("Team 2:", team2)
Team 1: ['Eddy', 'Zari', 'Lucie', 'Junior']
Team 2: ['Vikram', 'Duo', 'Lin', 'Oscar']
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python 10
Functions for Sequences
4. sample(seq, k, counts=None)
Purpose:
Returns a specified number of unique elements chosen from the sequence
(without replacement).
# List of students
students = [
"Doro", "Paula", "Alex", "Pepe", "Jaume",
"Massimo", "George", "Mike", "Ian", "Laura"
]
# Number of students to select
k = 3
# Randomly select 'k' students from the list
selected_students = random.sample(students, k)
['Jaume', 'Doro', 'George']
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python 11
Bookkeeping Function
1. seed()
Purpose:
Initializes the random number generator for predictable sequences.
Ensures reproducibility.
import random
# Set the seed for reproducibility (same output)
random.seed(42)
# Generate a random sample from a list of books
books = ['1984', 'Fahrenheit 451', 'Moby Dick', 'Hamlet']
random_sample = random.sample(books, 2)
['1984', 'Hamlet']
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python 12
Summary
random() Returns a random float between 0.0 and 1.0.
uniform(a, b) Returns a random float between a and b.
Random float between low and high with an
triangular(low,high,mode) optional mode.
Random integer between two specified
randint(a,b) integers, inclusive.
Selects a random element from the specified
randrange(start,stop,step) range.
Returns a randomly selected element from a
choice(seq) non-empty sequence.
Randomly selects k elements from a sequence,
choices(seq,weights=None,k=1) with optional weights.
shuffle(seq,random=None) Shuffles the sequence x in place.
Specified number of unique elements chosen
sample(seq,k,counts=None) from the sequence
Initializes the random number generator for
seed() predictable sequences.
Jaume Boguñá
Dive into Python 13
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Jaume Boguñá
Aerospace Engineer | Data Scientist
