Why are my random numbers consistent within a loop?

Understanding Consistent Random Numbers in Iterations

In the provided code snippet, it is observed that random numbers generated within a loop iteration remain consistent. Specifically, 'carSetter' and 'decider' variables retain the same values throughout 15 iterations despite the loop aiming to generate unique values.

This behavior arises due to the placement of srand(time(0)) within the loop. It determines the sequence of pseudorandom numbers returned in subsequent calls to rand(). The problem lies in the fact that time(0) usually returns the same value during the loop's execution, which leads to the generation of a consistent series of random numbers.

To rectify this issue and ensure true randomness, it is crucial to move the initial call to srand(time(0)) outside the loop. By doing so, you initialize the random number generator only once, ensuring that the sequence of random numbers varies significantly across iterations. The following code demonstrates this fix:

srand(time(0)); // Called once at the program's start

for (int i = 0; i < 15; i++) {
    carSetter = rand() % 3 + 1;
    decider = rand() % 2 + 1;
    // ... Rest of the code within the loop
}

This modification allows the loop to generate distinct random numbers with each iteration as intended. Note that it is unnecessary to call srand() within the loop as the pseudorandom number generator will continue to produce unique values until you explicitly reset it with another call to srand().

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