Thread: Math.Random()

I get the fact that it's an easy concept. The lab my teacher wanted us to construct is a random phone number generator.
The area code has to be 218, 312, or 731, it can't be anything else. He told us that we can use Math.random() for this method, but I cannot think of a way how the computer can generate those numbers unless there's an if statement. Any help? I'll post my code if needed. I just don't know the concept I am supposed to use.

can you explain the three options: 218, 312, 731. Do you want the program to randomly pick one of these 3 and then add 8 more random digits to create a 11 digit number?

First off, he wanted the area code to be only these, but random each time: 218, 312, 731.
The next three numbers needed like a range from 231 to 750. So I set up a variable
Then the last four numbers were to be from range 0-9999 (except for 1212).
So I set up an if statement.
The gist of the code looks like this, I left my file on my school computer.

int areacode;
areacode = //problem here, IDK what to put
int middlethree;
middlethree =(int)(231 + 519 * Math.random());
int lastfour;
lastfour = (int)(9999 * Math.random());
if (lastfournumbers != 1212) {
System.out.printf("%3d, %3d, %3d", areacode + middlethree + lastfournumbers);
}

Originally Posted by xionyus

I get the fact that it's an easy concept. The lab my teacher wanted us to construct is a random phone number generator.
The area code has to be 218, 312, or 731, it can't be anything else. He told us that we can use Math.random() for this method, but I cannot think of a way how the computer can generate those numbers unless there's an if statement. Any help? I'll post my code if needed. I just don't know the concept I am supposed to use.

First, create your Random object

Random gen = new Random();

You have three options, and you need to randomly choose one.

int areaCodeType = gen.nextInt(3);

Then, based on that randomly generated number, choose your area code

int areaCode = -1;
switch(areaCodeType)
{
  case 0:
    areaCode = 218;
    break;
  case 1:
    areaCode = 312;
    break;
  case 2:
    areaCode = 731;
    break;
}