# What is the seed number in generating random number?

Forums Academic discussion Simulation What is the seed number in generating random number?

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• #2168
Sara
Participant

When I generate a series of random number, I wonder to know the role of seed number. What is the function of seed number and how to set a seed number effficiently? If I want to generate a series of normal distribution, which factors should I consider about when I set a seed number?

#2174
Changyue Song
Keymaster

Hi, Sara. Random number generator is a program taking a number as an input and producing a ‘random’ number as output (It seems random but actually not). The following equation is an example of a random number generator:

$$X_{n+1} = (a X_n +b) \quad mod \quad m$$

After determination of $a, b, m$, we can produce a ‘random’ number $X_{n+1}$ by $X_n$. What we need is $X_0$ then we can generate a series of numbers. Here $X_0$ is a seed.

Generally a seed can be set to any number you like. If you do a simulation which consists of a lot of random number generations, you can repeat the simulation and get the same result by setting the seed to be the same value.

#2177
Kaibo Liu
Keymaster

#2188
Sara
Participant