Radio Shack TRS-80 User Manual page 101

Chapter
19
A RANDOM
number
is
one
with a
value that
is
unpredictable.
A
Random Number
Genera-
tor
pulls
random numbers
out of a
hat.
We
have a
Random Number
Generator
and you
set
it
up
this
way:
N =
RNDtX)
Where
N
is
the
random number
RND
is
the abbreviation and symbol
for
random
X
is
a control
number
which
can be
either
typed between
the parentheses or brought
in
as
a
variable
from
elsewhere
in the
program.
Type:
50
PRINT RND(0)
.
.
.and
RUN.
RUN
it
again
—
at least
10
times.
Did
you
observe:
1.
A
different
number
appeared each time?
2. All
numbers were between
and
1?
3.
Very small
numbers
were
expressed
in
exponential notation.
RUN
some more
until
you
are
satisfied
that these
statements
are true.
Wait a minute
—
all
this
RUNning
is
dumb. You
have a
Computer!
"Build"
a
FOR-NEXT
loop around
this
Random Number
Generator and
let
it
run
itself
10
times.
i vr-\
"RUNNING
IS
m-
or
ts
nr*
What
program
did
you
write?
I
wrote:
40 FOR
N =
1
TO
10
50
PRINT RND
(0)
60
NEXT
N
99