Random Number Generator

How to Generate Random Numberson the TI-84 Plus

In This Article

By Jeff McCalla, C. C. Edwards

It is likely that your TI-84 Plus calculator has a enormous number of digits in a list, called a random table which it utilizes in order to generate random numbers.

Generating random integers

In order to generate random integer,follow these steps:

1. To enable the randInt Wizard within the Math PROB menu, click If you're using a TI-84 Plus, there isn't a wizard for the randint command. In order to use the command you need to know the format: randint(lower, upper, [number of elements]).A wizard makes entering data easy. A wizard arranges the information you enter so that it fits the syntax of the command. Check out the wizard on one of the screens.
2. Select the lower limit, and the upper limit that you want the random number you choose to be.You would like a random number that is between 1 and 100. Enter [ENTER] or press the down-arrow to move to the next line of the wizard.
3. Enter n to indicate how many random numbers you'd like to generate.Press [ENTER] several times to generate more random numbers as shown in the second screen.
4. If you wish to generatea list of random integers change your value for n.See The third page in.

Generating random integerswith no repetition

Did you notice the integer 52, was selected twice on the 3rd screen? If you're making an assortment of random integers it is possible to avoid repetitions with a different command. These are the steps to follow:

1. To activate the randIntNoRep wizard in the Math PROB menu, press See on the initial screen.On the TI-84 Plus, the randIntNoRep command is not accompanied by wizards to aid you. The syntax for the command is randIntNoRep(lower,upper). Like the TI-84 Plus C which is a different command, this one doesn't offer an option to adjust for the quantity of terms.
2. Input between the limits of upper and lower, as well as you will be able to enter the upper and lower limits as well as n (the the number terms).See in the following screen.
3. Enter [ENTER] until the numbers are generated.This is illustrated in the third screen.

Generating random decimals

It is very easy to generate random decimal numbers that lie between 0 and 1. Press

Select to choose the rand option in the Math Probability menu. After that, press repeatedly [ENTER] to generate random numbers. The first screen will illustrate this process.

For generate random numbers that range between 100 and 0 you can use the rand command in an expression: 100*rand. The second screen.

Seeding the generator that generates random numbers

Your calculator generates random numbers from the vast number of digits laid out in an alphabetical list. Here's the exciting part. You choose from the list you would like your calculator to start producing random numbers. This is known as the seeding of your number.

Get a little creative with the number you choose to populate your calculator. It's a lot of fun! Find out how long you have been alive. Your calculator comes with a function to figure it out for you! The steps to follow:

1. Click [2nd][0] in order to access the Catalog.Notice that your calculator operates working in Alpha mode, as indicated by the blinking of the A in the cursor.
2. To insert the dbd( function, press dbd signifies the days that lie between dates.
3. You can enter your birth date in the form of an integer on this type of form. MM.DDYY.Dates must be between the years 1950-2049. In this case, June 1, 1968 was entered with the number 06.0168.
4. Press [,].
5. Fill in today's day's number in this form: MM.DDYY. January 2 2013, is entered using the number 01.0213.
6. Press [ENTER] to determine how long you've lived alive.See on the screen that first appears. Wow! 16,286 years sounds like aged!

Below are some steps to begin to seed your calculator:

1. Enter the number that you will be applying to your calculator to be seeded. 16286. Naturally, you could use any number in real life to seed your calculator.
2. Press
3. To include the rand command press
4. Press [ENTER] to seed on your calculator.See your first column of the next screen.
5. Test it! Try randInt( to generate an undetermined number.See the final line in the screen in.

Do you want to impress your friends? Seed your calculator with the results you have in mind. For example, if , for example, you intentionally seed your calculator using 16286, 16286 and the following three randomly generated numbers (from zero to 1000) which will be generated are 203, 197, and 213, like the screen 3. Just don't share your secret!

About the Book Author

Jeff McCalla is an instructor of mathematics at St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis, TN. He co-founded the TI-Nspire SuperUser group, and was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science & Mathematics Teaching. C.C. Edwards is an educator and has led numerous workshops on using TI calculators.