Generate a random number between 1 and 4?

[Slippy]

I need to know how to generate a random number between 1 and 4, I have googled it but i seem to only be able to find results which have really long winded amounts of code, and im thinking theres bound to be a nice short way... any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

[ProgramThis]

Try googling again

If you can't figure out how to get a random number between 1 and 4 from the very first link then you need to read a Programming 101 book. Don't be lazy, sit and actually read something and "try" to learn instead of having the answer handed to you.

[Xeel]

public String generateRandomNumber(){
   System.out.println("3"); //I guarantee that this was a random number
} 

[Slippy]

I must admit, the replies are very useful...

the term forum, indicates that this is a place where people can come to exchange ideas, or help one another, a social place to talk about given topics... not to just take the piss...

if id have been looking for a bunch of stuck up people to reply and try to make themselves look ever so intelligent just because they have had more experience, then i would have tried the sun java forums... wasnt expecting that kind of behaviour on this board.

[jenseits]

Ya every forum has it's jagoffs, just can't live without em.

All that you really need to do is import the java package for randomizing

import java.util.random;

Then assign a variable as such:

Random var = new Random();

Assign another variable to represent the randomly generated number

int num = v.nextInt(4) + 1;

You need to use the + 1 portion because the randomizer will generate 4 random numbers between 0 and 3. Adding one increases the field to 1 and 4

[postmortem]

Ya every forum has it's jagoffs, just can't live without em.

All that you really need to do is import the java package for randomizing

import java.util.random;

Then assign a variable as such:

Random var = new Random();

Assign another variable to represent the randomly generated number

int num = v.nextInt(4) + 1;

You need to use the + 1 portion because the randomizer will generate 4 random numbers between 0 and 3. Adding one increases the field to 1 and 4

not quite right, your range is [1,5], not [1,4]
what he needs is

int num =var.nextInt(3)+1

this will also ensure even distribution between 1 and 4.

[dlorde]

Gotta say I agree with ProgramThis - the very first link in the Google search he kindly supplied had examples of what the OP was looking for.

This is a forum for helping people with Java problems they are struggling with, not a Google proxy. Not being able or bothered to use Google doesn't rate anywhere on my list of tricky Java problems.

The generation of random numbers is too important to be left to chance...
R. Coveyou

[ProgramThis]

the term forum, indicates that this is a place where people can come to exchange ideas, or help one another, a social place to talk about given topics... not to just take the piss...

Sure, exchanging ideas is great. Sharing information is great. What did you bring to the table? You asked a question to a very simple problem that could have been discovered by yourself with 5 minutes of effort. To me, that is lazy (possibly inept).

if id have been looking for a bunch of stuck up people to reply and try to make themselves look ever so intelligent just because they have had more experience, then i would have tried the sun java forums... wasnt expecting that kind of behaviour on this board.

Stating that you have searched Google and stating that all the results had "long winded amounts of code" is absurd. I didn't answer the way I did to make myself seem smarter. I did it because your post showed a lack of initiative and effort. We get about 5 posts a day here from lazy programmers asking for the answer instead of asking for help.

Ya every forum has it's jagoffs, just can't live without em.

All that you really need to do is import the java package for randomizing

import java.util.random;

Then assign a variable as such:

Random var = new Random();

Assign another variable to represent the randomly generated number

int num = v.nextInt(4) + 1;

You need to use the + 1 portion because the randomizer will generate 4 random numbers between 0 and 3. Adding one increases the field to 1 and 4

Now this is a guy who is posting to try and show off how smart he is. Instead of leading the OP to find the answer for himself, possibly *gasp* learning something along the way, you decide to just hand out the answer. That to me shows the real "jagoff"

[jenseits]

Sure, exchanging ideas is great. Sharing information is great. What did you bring to the table? You asked a question to a very simple problem that could have been discovered by yourself with 5 minutes of effort. To me, that is lazy (possibly inept).



Stating that you have searched Google and stating that all the results had "long winded amounts of code" is absurd. I didn't answer the way I did to make myself seem smarter. I did it because your post showed a lack of initiative and effort. We get about 5 posts a day here from lazy programmers asking for the answer instead of asking for help.


Now this is a guy who is posting to try and show off how smart he is. Instead of leading the OP to find the answer for himself, possibly *gasp* learning something along the way, you decide to just hand out the answer. That to me shows the real "jagoff"

Right because i couldn't possibly be trying to help the guy out. He asked a question, so i showed him an answer, but now he knows where to look should he get stuck. It's one thing to point out a search and link it, it's another to completely condescend to the guy

[Xeel]

all sounds great except the fact that we are talking about the difficulties of typing "java generate random number" in google and copy-pasting the **** code...

[dlorde]

Right because i couldn't possibly be trying to help the guy out. He asked a question, so i showed him an answer, but now he knows where to look should he get stuck.

You don't do people's homework for them as well do you? - I only ask because we also get a lot of 'do my homework' questions we feel unable to answer, and having a Google-proxy-cum-homework-writer on board would save us some time

Seriously though, I think it's reasonable to expect minimal initiative and effort (i.e. enough to Google the answer) before posting on a forum.

Men are made stronger on realization that the helping hand they need is at the end of their own arm...
Sidney J. Phillips