Why does it appear that my random number generator isn't random in C#?

Question

I'm working in Microsoft Visual C# 2008 Express.

I found this snippet of code:

    public static int RandomNumber(int min, int max)
    {
        Random random = new Random();

        return random.Next(min, max);
    }

the problem is that I've run it more than 100 times, and it's ALWAYS giving me the same answer when my min = 0 and max = 1. I get 0 every single time. (I created a test function to run it - really - I'm getting 0 each time). I'm having a hard time believing that's a coincidence... is there something else I can do to examine or test this? (I did re-run the test with min = 0 and max = 10 and the first 50ish times, the result was always "5", the 2nd 50ish times, the result was always "9".

?? I need something a little more consistently random...

-Adeena

Answer 1

The problem with min = 0 and max = 1 is that min is inclusive and max is exclusive. So the only possible value for that combination is 0.

Answer 2

random = new Random();

This initiates random number generator with current time (in sec). When you call your function many times before system clock changed, the random number generator is initiated with the same value so it returns same sequence of values.