Skip to content

The rand() Command

Command Summary Command Syntax Calculator Compatibility Token Size
Generates a random number. rand() or rand(n) This command works on all calculators. 2 bytes
  • Press 2nd MATH to enter the MATH popup menu.
  • Press 7 to enter the Probability submenu.
  • Press 4 to paste rand(.

The rand() Command

The rand() command generates a random number. It can be used in one of two ways:
- rand() gives a random real number between 0 and 1.
- rand(n) gives a random integer between 1 and n.

By adding or multiplying appropriately, you can change these bounds. For example, 10rand() gives a random real number between 0 and 10, and rand(9)-5 gives a random number between -4 and 4.

L'Ecuyer's algorithm is used by TI calculators to generate pseudorandom numbers.

:RandSeed 0
:rand()
           .943597402492
:rand()
           .908318860975
:rand(10)
           2

Advanced Uses

Using the 68k:RandSeed command makes the random numbers entirely predictable: after setting the random seed to some value, the same random numbers will be returned every time.

Error Conditions

260 - Domain error happens when the maximum number is 1014 or greater.

Authors: KG