Random Number Between 2 Double Numbers

Question

Is it possible to generate a random number between 2 doubles?

Example:

public double GetRandomeNumber(double minimum, double maximum)
{
    return Random.NextDouble(minimum, maximum) 
}

Then I call it with the following:

double result = GetRandomNumber(1.23, 5.34);

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Watch out: if you're generating the random inside a loop like for example for(int i = 0; i < 10; i++), do not put the new Random() declaration inside the loop.

From MSDN:

The random number generation starts from a seed value. If the same seed is used repeatedly, the same series of numbers is generated. One way to produce different sequences is to make the seed value time-dependent, thereby producing a different series with each new instance of Random. By default, the parameterless constructor of the Random class uses the system clock to generate its seed value...

So based on this fact, do something as:

var random = new Random();

for(int d = 0; d < 7; d++)
{
    // Actual BOE
    boes.Add(new LogBOEViewModel()
    {
        LogDate = criteriaDate,
        BOEActual = GetRandomDouble(random, 100, 1000),
        BOEForecast = GetRandomDouble(random, 100, 1000)
    });
}

double GetRandomDouble(Random random, double min, double max)
{
     return min + (random.NextDouble() * (max - min));
}

Doing this way you have the guarantee you'll get different double values.

Answer 2

Yes.

Random.NextDouble returns a double between 0 and 1. You then multiply that by the range you need to go into (difference between maximum and minimum) and then add that to the base (minimum).

public double GetRandomNumber(double minimum, double maximum)
{ 
    Random random = new Random();
    return random.NextDouble() * (maximum - minimum) + minimum;
}

Real code should have random be a static member. This will save the cost of creating the random number generator, and will enable you to call GetRandomNumber very frequently. Since we are initializing a new RNG with every call, if you call quick enough that the system time doesn't change between calls the RNG will get seeded with the exact same timestamp, and generate the same stream of random numbers.

Answer 3

You could use code like this:

public double getRandomNumber(double minimum, double maximum) {
    return minimum + randomizer.nextDouble() * (maximum - minimum);
}

Answer 4

If you need a random number in the range [double.MinValue; double.MaxValue]

// Because of:
double.MaxValue - double.MinValue == double.PositiveInfinity

// This will be equals to NaN or PositiveInfinity
random.NextDouble() * (double.MaxValue - double.MinValue)

Use instead:

public static class RandomExtensions
{
    public static double NextDoubleInMinMaxRange(this Random random)
    {
        var bytes = new byte[sizeof(double)];
        var value = default(double);
        while (true)
        {
            random.NextBytes(bytes);
            value = BitConverter.ToDouble(bytes, 0);
            if (!double.IsNaN(value) && !double.IsInfinity(value))
                return value;
        }
    }
}