Random number generator

How to use the random number generator

1. Type the lowest and highest numbers you want in From and To. Both are included: from 1 to 100 can give 1 or 100. Use whole numbers; negatives work too, in either order.
2. Type how many numbers you want in How many, from 1 to 1,000.
3. Tick No repeats if each number may come up only once, and Sort from smallest to largest to put them in order.
4. Press Generate, or Enter in any box. Copy puts the numbers on your clipboard, separated by commas.

How the numbers are picked

A fair generator gives every number in the range the same chance. From 1 to 100 there are 100 numbers, so each has a 1 in 100 chance, or 1%, on every pick.

This one uses your browser’s secure random numbers, the kind it uses for encryption keys. A careless way of fitting a random value into a range slightly favours the lowest numbers; this generator throws such values away and draws again. Nothing is sent to EasiFox or anyone else.

Earlier results don’t change the next one. A number that hasn’t come up for a while isn’t “due”, and one that just came up is as likely as any other to come up again.

Repeats or no repeats?

Without No repeats, each pick is made from the whole range, like rolling a die again and again. Repeats then come sooner than most people expect:

Numbers picked from 1 to 100	Chance of a repeat
5	9.7%
10	37.2%
20	87%
30	99.2%

With No repeats, each pick is made from the numbers not picked yet, like drawing numbered balls from a bag. Use it for raffles, draws and anything where one number means one person. You can’t pick more numbers than the range holds: from 1 to 10, 10 at most.

Examples

• A number from 1 to 100: the boxes start set for it, so just press Generate. Use it for a guessing game: the closest guess goes first.
• A raffle: 250 tickets sold, numbered 1 to 250, and 3 prizes. Set From 1, To 250, How many 3, and tick No repeats. The first number wins the first prize, and so on.
• A lottery-style draw: 6 numbers from 1 to 49, no repeats, sorted. There are 13,983,816 possible sets, and each is as likely as the others, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 included.
• A die without dice: From 1 to 6 gives a fair roll. For several dice, with their pips and total, use the dice roller.

Numbers or names?

To pick a person, a meal or a task, put the names themselves on the wheel: you see who was picked instead of a number to look up. Numbers are better when your entries are already numbered, like raffle tickets, seats or pages, or when there are too many to type.

Tips

• Set the rules before you draw, especially for a giveaway: the range, how many winners, and what happens if a winner doesn’t reply.
• Record your screen while you press Generate when other people need to trust the result.
• Keep the first result. Pressing again until you like the answer makes the draw unfair.