Re: random generate small numbers using Qc3GenPRNs

Jim,

Any good random number generator should give even odds (such as flipping a
coin) when run an enough number of times. The ideal is to have a result
value between 0 and 1, so you can multiply your range number and get the
desired value. Googling your API I found this Scott Klement's article

http://systeminetwork.com/article/how-generate-pseudo-random-number-part-2

<http://systeminetwork.com/article/how-generate-pseudo-random-number-part-2>I
ran his example a good number of times and got very similar results on
either side of 500 (range 0...999).

HTH (and THANKS Scott!!),


Luis Rodriguez
IBM Certified Systems Expert — eServer i5 iSeries
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On Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 10:23 AM, <jfranz@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I'm using IBM's api Qc3GenPRNs to generate 3 digit random numbers (repeats
are
ok).
Using IBM's example it functions well, and you can pass it the "max" number
so
can be used for any (realistic) # digits.
However, I find in small #digits like 3 (max 999) it consistently returns
higher
numbers (over 500) than lower numbers. This causes a problem - regulatory
requirement to randomize a group of records & select all that are <= xxx
(varies
from state to state). The last statement of the pgm takes the huge #
generated
(** 64) and divides by the max (999) - i see that as the problem, but my
math
brain is limited. I've resolved the issue (i think) by using the last xxx
digits
(truncated) of the huge#, and not dividing. does this make sense? I need to
be
able to say this is "standard" solution.
Jim Franz

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