17.4. Random Numbers
Programs often need a source of random numbers. Prior to the new standard, both C and C++ relied on a simple C library function named rand. That function produces pseudorandom integers that are uniformly distributed in the range from 0 to a system-dependent maximum value that is at least 32767.
The rand function has several problems: Many, if not most, programs need random numbers in a different range from the one produced by rand. Some applications require random floating-point numbers. Some programs need numbers that reflect a nonuniform distribution. Programmers often introduce nonrandomness when they try to transform ...
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