[net.bugs] non-randomness in rand

p500vax:pat (03/19/83)

rand(), the random number generator in the UNIX library, returns
alternating even and odd numbers.

eric (03/23/83)

#R:p500vax:-17800:whuxlb:1800003:000:484
whuxlb!eric    Mar 22 17:22:00 1983

***** whuxlb:net.bugs / p500vax!pat /  8:39 pm  Mar 18, 1983
rand(), the random number generator in the UNIX library, returns
alternating even and odd numbers.
----------

well, i'm running UNIX 5.0, and here is my program:


main() {
	while (1) printf("%ld\n",rand());
}

and sample output:



16838
5758
10113
17515
31051
5627
23010
7419
16212
4086
2749
12767
9084

	looks pretty distributed to me!?! maybe you're running
	a different UNIX???
				Eric Holtman
				harpo!whuxlb!eric