Random Numbers in Python

Python provides the ability to create randomness by generating random numbers or picking randomly from a list. To utilize random numbers in Python, we must import a new library:

# Import the random library, allowing the use of functions that generate random numbers
import random

Generating Random Numbers Using random.randint

One of the primary ways we generate random numbers in Python is to generate a random integer (whole number) within a specified range. For example, if I want to generate a number to simulate the roll of a six-sided die, I need to generate a number in the range 1-6 (including the endpoints 1 and 6). With the random library, this is possible:

# Randomly generates a number in the range 1-6, including the end points:
random.randint(1, 6)

A new random number will be generated every time this code runs. This means that you might get 2 and then another 2 (just like it's possible to roll 2 twice in a row), but it's more likely that the second number you get will not be a 2.

The random.randint function will always generate numbers with equal probability for each number within the range. This means that the probability of getting any specific number when running random.randint(1, 10) is only 10% -- since each of the numbers 1-10 are each 10% likely to show up.

# Randomly generates a number in the range 1-10, including the end points:
random.randint(1, 10)

When you generate a generate many random numbers, you'll expect to see a random distribution of numbers and some areas where the same number appears many times in a row. Here's the output of running random.randint(1, 6) to generate a number in the range 1-6 a total of 100 times:

import random
random.randint(1, 6)
# ...and running the code 100 times:

1   # Our very first roll was a 1! :)
4
3
6
6   # This is the first time with two numbers in a row...
3
3
3   # ...followed by three 3s in a row!
5
3
5
4
6
2   # It took 14 rolls before our first 2 was rolled.
4
3
2
5   # We rolled a 5 here on the 18th roll...
4
1
6
3
4
1
3
2
4
1
6
6
3
6
2
4
2
3
3
1
3
1
3
3
5   # ...and then we don't roll another 5 for 25 rolls!
2
4
2
3
5   #
5   # This is the longest sequence in the whole set (four 5s).
5   # ...for any set of 100 dice rolls, we expect a run of four  
5   #    to happen about once. (We can simulate this later!)  
2
4
1   # However, it is not as rare to have runs of exactly three.
1   # (A run of exactly three occurred twice this set of 100 numbers:
1   #   3s on rolls {7,8,9} and then these 1s on rolls {54, 55, 56}.)
2
6
6
1
6
3
5
4
1
2
5
1
4
1
5
5
3
3
2
4
4
5
2
5
2
6
3
6
5
2
5
2
5
1   # The last roll of a 1 -- there is 14 rolls of a 1.
6   # The last roll of a 6 -- there is only 13 rolls of a 6.
5
3
3   # The last roll of a 3, the most popular number -- rolled 21 times!
2
5
5   # The last roll of a 5 -- there is 20 rolls of a 5.
4   # The last roll of a 4 -- there is 14 rolls of a 4.
2
2   # The last roll of a 2 -- there is 18 rolls of a 2.

Generating Random Numbers Using random.choice

When we need more control over the random number generation, random.choice requires a list to be specified and Python will randomly choose one value from the list. For example, we can still simulate rolling a six sided die:

# Randomly generates a number in the range 1-6, including the end points:
random.choice( [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] )

However, suppose we want to cheat! What if we designed a dice what is twice as likely to land on a six than normal. To account for this, we can add a second six to random.choice:

# An unfair die, twice as likely to roll a 6 than any other value:
random.choice( [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6] )
#                                ^^- An extra 6 was added!

Generating Random Strings Using random.choice

Python will pull any element from the list when using random.choice, so it does not always have to be a number! For example, if we want Python to flip a coin that has a "heads" and "tails" side, we can still use random.choice:

random.choice( ["heads", "tails"] )

Remember that Python is equally likely to pull any element form the list -- so this would be a fair coin, as there will be a 50% chance for "heads" and 50% for "tails".

Example Walk-Throughs with Worksheets

Video 1: Random Numbers in Python

Practice Questions