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Java Random Class Notes Important

The document explains the usage of the Random class in Java for generating random values, including methods like nextInt(), nextDouble(), and nextBoolean(). It provides examples for simulating games like rock-paper-scissors and coin tosses, as well as demonstrating how to count outcomes over multiple trials. Additionally, it briefly introduces the Character class and its utility methods for character type detection.

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3 views10 pages

Java Random Class Notes Important

The document explains the usage of the Random class in Java for generating random values, including methods like nextInt(), nextDouble(), and nextBoolean(). It provides examples for simulating games like rock-paper-scissors and coin tosses, as well as demonstrating how to count outcomes over multiple trials. Additionally, it briefly introduces the Character class and its utility methods for character type detection.

Uploaded by

carawa6255
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Random Class

An instance of the Random can be used to generate a stream of


random values

Typical process:
1. Create a Random object
2. Use the object to get random values. Use one of:
nextInt() returns a random integer
nextInt(max) returns an integer random value in [0, … max )
nextDouble() returns a random value in [0.0, 1.0 )
nextBoolean() returns a random value from {true, false}

Note: need an import statement


import java.util.Random;

1
Random Class

Examples

1. Simulate a 3-way choice: rock/paper/scissors – use nextInt(3)


2. Simulate coin toss – use nextInt(2)
3. Simulate coin toss – use nextBoolean()
4. Simulate tossing a coin 100 times counting number of heads

2
Random class – Rock/paper/scissors

Example 1. code to display a random Rock-Paper-Scissors:

// three outcomes, all equally likely


Random rand = new Random();
// nextInt(3) produces a value from {0, 1, 2}
switch( rand.nextInt(3) ) {
case 0:
System.out.println("Rock");
break;
case 1:
System.out.println("Paper");
break;
case 2:
System.out.println("Scissors");
break;
}

3
Random class – toss a coin

Example 2. code to display a random coin toss:

// two-sided coin: heads/tails


Random rand = new Random();
// nextInt(2) produces values from {0, 1}
switch( rand.nextInt(2) ) {
case 0:
System.out.println("Heads");
break;
case 1:
System.out.println("Tails");
break;}

Tossing coins using Booleans  next slide

4
Random class – toss a coin using booleans

Example 3. code to display a random coin toss:

// two-sided coin: heads/tails


Random rand = new Random();
// nextBoolean() produces values from {true, false}
// cannot switch on booleans  use if-else
if( rand.nextBoolean() )
System.out.println("Heads");
else
System.out.println("Tails");

5
Random class

Example 4: Simulate tossing a coin 100 times (page 117 in text)

public class TossCoin


{
public static void main ( String [] args )
{
int heads = 0; // counter for heads
System.out.print("\ n100 tosses : ");
Random g = new Random () ;

for (int i=0; i<100; i++)


if( g.nextBoolean() ) heads ++;

System.out.println("\ nHeads : "+ heads


+"\ nTails : "+(100 - heads ) ) ;
}
}

6
Random Number Generators

ASIDE: What does a random number generator look like?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_congruential_generator

nextValue  (a * previousValue + c) mod m

Java: next  (25214903917*previous + 11) mod 231


uses 48-bit values at each iteration but returns
the 32 most significant bits

7
Character class

An instance of the Character class is not required

Character contains many useful utility methods

8
Character class

Examples

Notice in the code how the Character class methods are specified
when there is no object … this may seem odd, but …

1. Detecting letters, digits

2. Getting a numeric value of a character that is a digit

3. Checking a control number for validity


• Suppose all characters must be numeric
• Consider exercise 6 on page 125

9
Character class
Example 1
public class CharacterTypes

A line of text is examined, character-by-character, to determine the


character’s type where type is one of {letter, digit, other}

Character methods used:


isLetter(…) returns true if the character is a letter
isDigit(…) returns true if the character is a digit

No instance of Character is used which means the methods are called


using statements of the form
If ( Character.isDigit(c) ) System.out.println(…

Prefix Character. Is needed The argument passed to isDigit is the character c


to reference a static method
of the Character class The method to execute is isDigit
10

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