Question 13.15

I need a random number generator.

The Standard C library has one: rand. The implementation on your system may not be perfect, but writing a better one isn't necessarily easy, either.

If you do find yourself needing to implement your own random number generator, there is plenty of literature out there; see the References. There are also any number of packages on the net: look for r250, RANLIB, and FSULTRA (see question 18.16).

References: K&R2 Sec. 2.7 p. 46, Sec. 7.8.7 p. 168
ANSI Sec. 4.10.2.1
ISO Sec. 7.10.2.1
H&S Sec. 17.7 p. 393
PCS Sec. 11 p. 172
Knuth Vol. 2 Chap. 3 pp. 1-177
Park and Miller, ``Random Number Generators: Good Ones are hard to Find''

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