tedd wrote:
> 
> Alain:
> 
> >'set initial values ordered from 1 to 49
> >   FOR i = 1 TO 49
> >     gValue%(i) = i
> >   NEXT
> >   'set last item to a random number (1-49)
> >   gValue%(50) = RND(49)
> >   'shuffle the array
> >   FOR i = 1 TO 50
> >     SWAP gValue%(i), gValue%(RND(50))
> >   NEXT
> 
> Why not:
> 
>    FOR i = 1 TO 50
>      gValue%(i) = i
>    NEXT
>    FOR i = 1 TO 50
>      SWAP gValue%(i), gValue%(RND(50))
>    NEXT
> 
Why not?
Because from what I have understood, the problem Jeffrey was having
was with the 50th item (must be a number between 1 and 49 and also
it must be in a random location). I'm not sure I have fully
understood the question though.

> However, the RND(50) function means that it is returning a number "at
> random" between 0 and 51 (x>0 AND x<51). It may return, and most
> probably will return, the same number more than once in 50 calls. As
> such, then the values of some indexes will be moved to other indexes
> while others aren't moved at all (rather moved to themselves). It's
> an interesting solution and was not obvious to me.
> 
OK, but when a value is not moved, say when index = 1 and the RND
function returns 1, this doesn't stop the value at index 1 to be
moved later, say when index = 6 and RND(50) returns 1 again.
Ingenious, no?
-- 

Cheers

Alain

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