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Random number generator generates duplicates

Framework: Java
public static List<Integer> buttonIdList = new ArrayList();
public void myMainMethod() {
for(Integer i = 0; i < 11; i++) {
int randomButtonId = getUniqueIdNumber();
}
}
private static Integer getUniqueIdNumber() {
Random ran = new Random();
int randomButtonId = ran.nextInt(20) + 1;
if(buttonIdList.contains(randomButtonId)) {
getUniqueIdNumber();
} else {
buttonIdList.add(randomButtonId);
}
return randomButtonId;
}
When the code encounters a duplicate, it calls itself (recursively) and in the second try if the number is unique the return statement returns it to the myMainMethod or to getUniqueIdNUmber?
Where should the return statement be placed?

You should return the result of the recursive call:
private static Integer getUniqueIdNumber() {
Random ran = new Random();
int randomButtonId = ran.nextInt(20) + 1;
if(buttonIdList.contains(randomButtonId)) {
return getUniqueIdNumber();
} else {
buttonIdList.add(randomButtonId);
}
return randomButtonId;
}
P.S., it would be better to make Random ran a static variable instead of creating a new Random instance in each recursive call.
private static Random ran = new Random();
private static Integer getUniqueIdNumber() {
int randomButtonId = ran.nextInt(20) + 1;
if(buttonIdList.contains(randomButtonId)) {
return getUniqueIdNumber();
} else {
buttonIdList.add(randomButtonId);
return randomButtonId;
}
}
And you might consider changing buttonIdList to a HashSet (or LinkedHashSet if you care about insertion order) in order to make the search for existing number more efficient.

Return the result of each iteration in the loop

I'm doing something that produces the right result. However, it is wrong from a design POV.
The point of the program is to list the result of all the powers of a number up to and including the user-defined limit.
I have a constructor which accepts the base and the exponent from the Scanner. Then a method, which utilises a for loop to calculate the power for each exponent.
Now, the problem is that I'm printing the result from each loop iteration directly from this method. This beats the point of private variables and it being void in the 1st place.
Therefore, I want to define a getter method which returns the result of each power to the output. I used to set them just fine for if/switch statements, but I don't know how to do the same for loops. If I assign the result to a variable within the loop and return that variable from the getter then it will return only the output from the final iteration.
Private implementation
package Chapter6Review;
public class Powers {
private int target;
private int power;
public Powers(int target, int power) {
this.target = target;
this.power = power;
}
public void calculatePower() {
for (int i = 0; i <= power; i++) {
System.out.println((int) Math.pow(target, i));
}
}
/*
public int getPower() {
return
}
*/
}
User interface
package Chapter6Review;
import java.util.Scanner;
public class PowersTester {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("Enter your base: ");
int target = in.nextInt();
System.out.print("Enter your exponent: ");
int power = in.nextInt();
Powers tester = new Powers(target, power);
tester.calculatePower();
}
}

You can simply use a List ;
public List<Integer> calculatePower() {
int p;
List<Integer> result = new ArrayList<Integer>();
for (int i = 0; i <= power; i++) {
p = (int) Math.pow(target, i);
result.add(p);
}
return result;
}
Then in you main method, you can iterate the list to print the powers like that :
List<Integer> result = new ArrayList<Integer>();
Powers tester = new Powers(target, power);
result = tester.calculatePower();
for (int i = 0; i < result.size(); i++) {
System.out.println(result.get(i));
}

You could store each of the results in a List:
List<Power> list = new ArrayList<>();
and when you call it add it as well
list.add(new Powers(target, power));
At the end you can iterate over the list like this:
for (Power power : list){
// your code
}

You might consider using streams as well
public List<Integer> calculatePower() {
return IntStream
.rangeClosed(0, power). // iterate from 0 till power inclusive
.mapToObj(i -> (int) Math.pow(target,i))
.collect(Collectors.toList()); // get result as list
}

Thanks for all the answers. Using a list seems to be a good choice.
Since I haven't covered lists yet, I resorted to this solution for now. But I don't like having code that can affect the solution in the main. Ideally, the loop should go in the private implementation.
Main
Powers tester = new Powers(target, power);
for (int i = 0; i <= power; i++) {
tester.calculatePower(i);
System.out.println(tester.getPower());
}
Private implementation
public void calculatePower(int iPower) {
result = (int) Math.pow(target, iPower);
}
public int getPower() {
return result;
}

How would I utilize a value returned from a method and implement it the main method in java?

Can I pass the return value from a method into the main method then utilize that value in another method? That sounds confusing but let me try to explain it better with some code...
public static void main(String[] args){
ArrayList<GeometricObject> geoList = new ArrayList<GeometricObject>();
findPositionLargestObject(geoList);
System.out.println("BIGGEST OBJECT AT "+ maxIndex +" AREA =
"+geoList.get(maxIndex).getArea());
showObjects(geoList.get(maxIndex));
}
//METHOD RETRIEVING INT OF ARRAYLIST
private static int findPositionLargestObject(
ArrayList<GeometricObject> geoList) {
int maxIndex = 0;
for (int i = 1; i < geoList.size(); i++) {
// AREA OF I COMPARES MAX INDEX
if (geoList.get(i).getArea() > geoList.get(maxIndex).getArea()) {
maxIndex = i;
}
}
return maxIndex;
}
// METHOD FOR PRINTING SINGLE OBJECT OF ARRAYLIST
private static void showObjects(GeometricObject geometricObject) {
System.out.println(geometricObject.toString());
}
Lets say I even instantiate the index in the main method such as
int maxIndex = 0;
I want the first method called to return the value, assign that value to the variable maxIndex then utilize that value for the showObjects method. Thanks for any insight that can be given to a coding novice like myself. Is instantiating the variable in the main method no good? What is the logic behind the JAVAC execution here?? The curriculum covered in my course feels like this is an enormous hole that needs to be filled. Basically, How do I utilize a value returned from a method then implement into another method?

Variables are only containers for a value bound to its type. If a method is returning a type, you can place it's return value in a variable located in another block of code. To provide a very basic example for an easier understanding of how this can work:
private String getString(int number) {
if (number == 2) {
return "Not One";
}
return "One";
}
private void printValue(String number) {
if (number.equals("One")) {
System.out.println("i is 1");
} else {
System.out.println("i is not one");
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
int i = 1;
String testNum = getString(i);//returns "One"
printValue(testNum);//output: i is 1
}
With this example in mind,
int maxIndex = findPositionLargestObject(geoList);
showObjects(geoList.get(maxIndex));
is valid.

Unless I'm missing something, assign the result of your function call. I suggest you program to the List interface. Also, if using Java 7+ you could use the diamond operator <> like
List<GeometricObject> geoList = new ArrayList<>(); // <-- diamond operator
// ... populate your List.
int maxIndex = findPositionLargestObject(geoList);
and then yes you can use the variable maxIndex

you can obtain the return value in main method like this,
int maxIndex=findPositionLargestObject(geoList);
Code:
public static void main(String[] args){
ArrayList<GeometricObject> geoList = new ArrayList<GeometricObject>();
int maxIndex=findPositionLargestObject(geoList);
System.out.println("BIGGEST OBJECT AT "+ maxIndex +" AREA =
"+geoList.get(maxIndex).getArea());
showObjects(geoList.get(maxIndex));
}
//METHOD RETRIEVING INT OF ARRAYLIST
private static int findPositionLargestObject(
ArrayList<GeometricObject> geoList) {
int maxIndex = 0;
for (int i = 1; i < geoList.size(); i++) {
// AREA OF I COMPARES MAX INDEX
if (geoList.get(i).getArea() > geoList.get(maxIndex).getArea()) {
maxIndex = i;
}
}
return maxIndex;
}
// METHOD FOR PRINTING SINGLE OBJECT OF ARRAYLIST
private static void showObjects(GeometricObject geometricObject) {
System.out.println(geometricObject.toString());
}

Print random integers without duplicates [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
Generating Unique Random Numbers in Java
(21 answers)
Closed 9 years ago.
I have this assignment:
Print 5 random integer between 1-52 with no duplicate using if/else.
Here's my code so far. It prints some numbers, but it sometimes prints duplicates.
import java.util.Random;
public class RandomCards {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Random randomCards = new Random();
int card;
for (int x = 1; x <= 5; x++) {
card = randomCards.nextInt(52) + 1;
}
if (card != randomCards) // if the value of card is not equal, proceed
{
System.out.print(card + " ");
} else {
return card; // if the value are the same get random integers again
}
}
}

public static void main(String args[]) {
Random randomNumber = new Random();
// Set stores only Unique values
Set<Integer> cards = new HashSet<Integer>();
// Iterate over to generate random numbers
while (cards.size() < 5) {
int r = randomNumber.nextInt(52) + 1;
cards.add(r);
}
for(Integer card : cards) {
System.out.println(card);
}
}

You can use this
Random randomCards = new Random();
int[] card={0,0,0,0,0};
while(card[card.length-1] == 0) {
int temp=randomCards.nextInt(52);
for(int j=0;j< card.length ; j++){
if(card[j] == 0){
card[j] = temp;
break;
}
}
}
for(int j=0;j< card.length ; j++){
System.out.println(card[j]);
}

It's not clear what you're asking, but I note from your code that you don't have any duplicate detection. You need to save each value that you generate and check for duplicates when you create a new one. I suggest creating a Set<Integer> to hold your generated values, calling add() for each new card, and checking contains() to see whether a new value has already been selected. You'd want to change your loop condition to something like cards.size() < 5 as well.
Finally, note that your use of return card is incorrect and will result in a compile-time error. return is used to end a method and send a value back to where it was called from; the main method (which is always void) has no return value, and ending the method wouldn't make sense there anyway. It looks like some code may have been copied and pasted from a version where drawCard() was its own method. Instead, just keep looping until you find 5 unique cards (such as by using the size() method I mentioned earlier).

Maybe this?
Random rand = new Random();
// ArrayList to store non-duplicate cards.
ArrayList<Integer> cards = new ArrayList<Integer>();
// Iterate over to generate random numbers
while (cards.size() < 5)
{
int r = rand.nextInt(52) + 1;
if (!cards.contains(r))
cards.add(r); // Only add if there is no such number in list
}
Hope this helps.

Hope this would be of any help.
It comprises of separate methods for computation, setting the lower and upper bound and printing the list when it has 5integers in it. Using TreeSet solves your problem of duplicates. Here it goes,
package com.project.stackoverflow;
import java.util.Random;
import java.util.Scanner;
import java.util.TreeSet;
public class RandomGenerator {
public TreeSet<Integer> compute() {
TreeSet<Integer> generatedList = new TreeSet<Integer>();
Scanner s = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.println("Enter the lower bound for checking random numbers:");
long lowBound = s.nextLong();
System.out.println("Enter the upper bound for checking random numbers:");
long topBound = s.nextLong();
Random randomNumbers = new Random();
for (int i = 0; i < topBound; i++) {
if (generatedList.size()==5) {
break;
}
else {
generatorFunc(lowBound, topBound,randomNumbers,generatedList);
}
}
return generatedList;
}
public void generatorFunc(long lowBound,long topBound,Random randomNumbers, TreeSet <Integer> generatedList) {
long limit = topBound - lowBound;
long part = (long)(limit * randomNumbers.nextDouble());
int randomNum = (int) (part + lowBound);
generatedList.add(randomNum);
}
public void printList() {
TreeSet<Integer> testListVals = compute();
System.out.println("New" + testListVals);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
RandomGenerator obj = new RandomGenerator();
obj.printList();
}
}

If your problem is just about the duplicates, then you can store each random number generated in an array, and for every successive call to nextint(), check if it already exists in the array of stored values, and till it does, call nextint() again for that iteration itself, else store it in the array and go to next iteration.

Finding duplicate random numbers in an ArrayList

public class LotteryNumbers {
private ArrayList <Integer> numbers;
public LotteryNumbers() {
this.numbers = new ArrayList <Integer> ();
this.drawNumbers();
}
public ArrayList <Integer> numbers() {
return this.numbers;
}
public void drawNumbers() {
Random random = new Random ();
int counter = 0;
while (counter < 7) {
this.numbers.add(random.nextInt(39) + 1);
counter++;
}
}
This is a class used for printing 7 numbers from 1..39.
It does that job but the problem is I want the 7 random numbers to be different.
How do I check if an arrayList contains the same number since it is random?
Thanks for reading.

You could try using the contains() method from the ArrayList numbers:
public void drawNumbers()
{
Random random = new Random();
int counter = 0;
int choice;
while (counter < 7) {
choice = random.nextInt(39) + 1;
if (numbers.contains(choice)) {
continue;
}
numbers.add(choice);
counter++;
}
}
From Java Docs:
public boolean contains(Object o): Returns true if this list contains
the specified element.
So, if the ArrayList already contains the choice (randomly generated), it will continue to the next iteration (counter won't be increased) and choose another random number. If it doesn't contains the choice, it will add it to the array and increase counter.
This can also be done by this way (without using continue)
if (!numbers.contains(choice)) {
numbers.add(choice);
counter++;
}

How do I check if an ArrayList contains the same number since it is random?
Like this (example):
public void drawNumbers() {
Random random = new Random ();
int counter = 0;
while (counter < 7) {
int newNumber = random.nextInt(39) + 1;
if (! numbers.contains(newNumber)) {
this.numbers.add(newNumber);
counter++;
}
}
}

You could use contains as as the earlier responses suggest, however contains on an array list in inefficient with O(n) complexity. One of the comments by #TheLostMind suggest using a Set, the best Set implementation to use in this instance is BitSet, note it does not confirm to the java.util.Set interface specification.
public class LotteryNumbers {
private final int[] numbers = new int[7]
public LotteryNumbers() {
this.drawNumbers();
}
public int[] numbers() {
return this.numbers;
}
public void drawNumbers() {
BitSet selected = new BitSet(40);
Random random = new Random ();
int counter = 0;
while (counter < 7) {
int num = random.nextInt(39) + 1;
if(!selected.get(num)) {
selected.flip(num);
numbers[counter++] = num;
}
}
}
This implementation, tho unlikely, does not guarantee that you will always get a result.

You could also put your numbers in a list and use COllections.shuffle and get the first 7 occurences.
You do not need to check if duplicate...
ArrayList list = new ArrayList();
list.add(1);
list.add(2);
....
Collections.shuffle(list);
loop and get your numbers...
int num = Integer.intValue(list.get(i));