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javaprobability

Probability in Java

I was curious to know, how do I implement probability in Java? For example, if the chances of a variable showing is 1/25, then how would I implement that? Or any other probability? Please point me in the general direction.

Solution

  • You'd use Random to generate a random number, then test it against a literal to match the probability you're trying to achieve.

    So given:

    boolean val = new Random().nextInt(25)==0;

    val will have a 1/25 probability of being true (since nextInt() has an even probability of returning any number starting at 0 and up to, but not including, 25.)

    You would of course have to import java.util.Random; as well.

    As pointed out below, if you're getting more than one random number it'd be more efficient to reuse the Random object rather than recreating it all the time:

    Random rand = new Random();
boolean val = rand.nextInt(25)==0;

    ..

    boolean val2 = rand.nextInt(25)==0;