Education Technology

Solution 11901: Two Different Graphing or Scientific Calculators Generating Identical Lists of Random Numbers.

Is it possible for two different calculators to generate identical lists of random numbers?

It is possible that two different calculators could generate the same random list of numbers in the same order. The random number generator (rand) used in the calculators relies on what is known as a seed value. The default seed value is 0. With each rand execution, the calculator will generate the same random number sequence for a given seed value. To obtain a different random number sequence, store any nonzero number to rand.

This scenario exists for the following graphing calculators: TI-73, TI-81, TI-82, TI-83 family, TI-84 family, TI-Nspire™ handheld in TI-84 Plus mode. TI-85, TI-86, TI-89 family, TI-92 family and Voyage™ 200. This scenario also exists for the TI-30X IIS/B and the TI-34 II Explorer™.

Please see the guidebook for your calculator for more information.