Random Number Generator

How to Generate Random Numberson the TI-84 Plus

In This Article

By Jeff McCalla, C. C. Edwards

This TI-84 Plus calculator has a enormous number of digits in a list, called a random number table, that it uses in order to generate random numbers.

Generating random integers

To generate random integer,follow these steps:

1. To enable the randInt Wizard within the Math PROB menu, click If you are using a TI-84 Plus, there isn't a wizard for the randint command. To be able to use the command, you must know what syntax to expect: randint(lower higher, upper elements]).A Wizard makes the process of entering information simple. A wizard arranges the data entered in a way that corresponds to the syntax of command. You can see the wizard on the first screen.
2. Select the lower limit, and the upper limit you want for your number of randoms to be.You are looking for a random numbers that ranges from 1 to 100. Enter [ENTER] or press the down-arrow key in order to get through the next screen in the wizard.
3. Enter n, to determine how many random numbers do you wish to generate.Press [ENTER] several times to generate additional random numbers as illustrated in the second screen.
4. If you wish to generatea list of random integers, change the value of n.See on the screen #3 in.

Generating random integerswith no repetition

Did you notice that the integer, 52, was chosen twice at the end of the screen? If you're creating the list of random integers it is possible to avoid repetitions by using a different option. Here are the steps:

1. To turn on the randIntNoRep Wizard in the Math PROB menu, click See in the very first 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). In contrast to the TI-84 Plus C however, you do not have options to change to the amount of words.
2. Enter the upper and lower limits as well as the number n (the quantity of terms).See on the next screen.
3. Press [ENTER] until your numbers are generated.This is shown in the 3rd screen.

Generating random decimals

It is simple to generate random decimal numbers, which are between 0 and 1. Press

To select to select the to select the option in the Math Probability menu. Then repeatedly press [ENTER] to generate the random numbers. The first screen will illustrate this procedure.

In order to generate random numbers between 100 and 0 you can utilize the rand command. It is an expression: 100*rand. The second screen.

Seeding the random number generator

Your calculator generates random numbers from an extensive list of numbers laid out in a list. The best part is. You can pick where in the list you'd like the calculator to start producing random numbers. It's called the seeding of your number.

Be creative with the number you choose to seed your calculator. This should be enjoyable! Calculate how many days you've been alive. Calculators come with commands to figure it out for you! Take these actions:

1. Use [2nd][0] to access the Catalog.Notice, your calculator is in Alpha mode, as shown by the blinking A on the cursor.
2. To add the dbd( function click dbd refers to the days that lie between dates.
3. You can enter your birth date in the form of numbers in the following form: MM.DDYY.Dates are required to be in the period between 1950 and 2049. In this case, June 1, 1968 was entered with the following number: 06.0168.
4. Press [,].
5. Fill in today's day's number in this format: MM.DDYY. January 2, 2013 will be entered as the number 01.0213.
6. Press [ENTER] to find out the number of days you have lived alive.See your first display. Wow! 16,286 days is very old!

Following are the necessary steps to start your calculator:

1. Enter the number you're using to seed your calculator. 16286. You can choose any number that is real to seed your calculator.
2. Press
3. To include the rand command press
4. Enter [ENTER] to seed you calculator.See on the right side of your screen. on your second display.
5. Test it! RundInt( to generate an undetermined number.See the last line of this second screen.

Are you looking to impress your colleagues? You can seed your calculator with results you have in mind. For example, if , for example, you deliberately seed your calculator with an amount of 16286 and the following three randomly generated numbers (from 0 to 1,000) that will be generated will be 203, 213, and 197 as displayed in three screens. Just don't share your secret!

About the Book Author

Jeff McCalla is a mathematics teacher for St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis, TN. He cofounded the TI-Nspire SuperUser group, and received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science & Mathematics Teaching. C.C. Edwards is an instructor who has presented various workshops on using TI calculators.