Generating a random number, or an array of random numbers, between 0 and 1, in IDL is easy. Simply call upon RANDOMU. But how do you generate random numbers between two other numbers?
RANDOMU creates pseudo-random numbers between 0 and 1, and has a number of variables you can pass to it (but be careful when using it: Random Numbers Are…Uh, Not Random!). But what if you don’t want a random number between 0 and 1, and say between 2 and 5?
Easy.
All you need to do is multiply by the range and add the start! So for example for a random number between 2 and 5:
print,2+3*RANDOMU(seed,1) |
Or say 10 random numbers between 4 and 10:
print,4+6*RANDOMU(seed,10) |
Told you it was easy.