App Lab Documentation

randomNumber(min, max)

Category:Math

You will find many opportunities in your apps to utilize random numbers. For turtle drawing you can randomize all the movement functions, the pen RGB color, pen thickness, and dot size. Any numeric function parameter with a valid range of values can be randomized.

Examples

Example: Generate random number in range

// Generates a random number in the range 5 to 20 (inclusive).
console.log(randomNumber(5, 20));       

Example: Random Walk

Random Walk Do a "random walk" of 4 steps, turning a random number of degrees after each step.

// Do a "random walk" of 4 steps, turning a random number of degrees after each step.
moveForward();
turnRight(randomNumber(-90, 90));
moveForward();
turnRight(randomNumber(-90, 90));
moveForward();
turnRight(randomNumber(-90, 90));
moveForward();

Example: Clouds

Clouds Draw a cloud mass using randomly sized dots at random locations near each other.

// Draw a cloud mass using randomly sized dots at random locations near each other.
penColor("skyblue");
dot(300);
penUp();
penRGB(245, 245, 245,0.3);
moveTo(randomNumber(0, 320),randomNumber(0, 450));
for (var i = 0; i < 50; i++) {
  moveTo(getX()+randomNumber(-25, 25),getY()+randomNumber(-25, 25));
  dot(randomNumber(25,50));
}

Syntax

randomNumber(min, max);

Parameters

NameTypeRequired?Description
minnumber

The minimum number returned

maxnumber

The maximum number returned

Returns

Returns a random number in the range min to max (inclusive). The number returned will always be an integer.

Tips

  • Negative values for parameters min or max are allowed.
  • If you accidently make min larger than max it will still return a random number in the range.
  • The number returned is not truly random as defined in mathematics but is pseudorandom.

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