Random Numbers in C

Babkockdood · Apr 17, 2010

OK, I have been trying for about an hour now to get this to work. I'm trying to generate a random number and display a line of text based on that number. This is what I have so far.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <time.h>

int main()
{
	
	srand(time(NULL));
	int number = rand() % 3;
	
	if (number = 1)
		printf("This is the first line of text.\n");
	
	if (number = 2)
		printf("This is the second line of text.\n");
}

I want this to print either "This is the first line of text." or "This is the second line of text.". When I compile and run it, it prints both. Can someone help me with this?

Babkockdood · Apr 17, 2010

Nevermind.

nabl · Apr 18, 2010

I assume you figured it out, but just in case you didn't, the problem is that you're using the assignment operator (=) in your comparisons instead of the correct == operator. Also, considering that you want to print either one line of text or the other, you might want to consider using an if/else construction.

Raz0rEdge · Apr 18, 2010

Also, you aren't accounting for the very real possibility that number = 0. If you only want to check for 1 and 2, then you need "(rand() % 3) + 1)" to cover that..

Regards

nabl · Apr 18, 2010

Raz0rEdge said:
Also, you aren't accounting for the very real possibility that number = 0. If you only want to check for 1 and 2, then you need "(rand() % 3) + 1)" to cover that..

Regards

Or more simply, if only two options are wanted, int number = rand() % 2; followed by a check for 0 or 1 would be best.

Random Numbers in C

Babkockdood

Babkockdood

nabl

Raz0rEdge

Well-known member

nabl

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