function/RND                                                     function/RND
 
 NAME
     RND -- Generates a random number
 
 ABBREVIATION
     r <shift> N

 SYNOPSIS
     RND(<seed>)

 FUNCTION
     This function returns a random number between 0 and 1. This is useful in
     games, to simulate dice rolls and other elements of change, and is also 
     used in some statistical applications. The first random number should be
     generated by the formula RND(-TI), to start things off differently every
     time. After this, the number in <seed> should be a 1, or any positive 
     number. If <seed> is zero, RND is re-seeded from the hardware clock ever
     time RND is used. A negative value for <seed> seeds the random number 
     generator using <seed> and gives a random number sequence. The use of 
     the same negative number for <seed> as a seed results in the same 
     sequence of random numbers. A positive value gives random numbers based 
     on the previous seed.
 
 INPUTS
     <seed> - a seed, or what the random number is based on
 
 RESULT
     A random number between 0 and 1 (numeric).

 EXAMPLES
     100 X=INT(RND(1)*6)+INT(RND(1)*6)+2
         Simulates two dice.
 
     100 X=INT(RND(1)*1000)+1
         Number from 1-1000.
 
     100 X=INT(RND(1)*150)+100
         Number from 100 to 249.
 
 NOTES
     To simulate the rolling of a die, use the formula INT(RND(1)*6+1). First
     the random number from 0-1 is multiplied by 6, which expands the range 
     to 0-6 (actually, greater than zero and less than six). Then 1 is added,
     making the range 1 to under 7. The INT function chops off all the 
     decimal places, leaving the result as a digit from 1 to 6.
     To simulate 2 dice, add two of the numbers obtained by the above formula
     together.
 
 BUGS
     None
 
 SEE ALSO
     None