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C# Why get a zero number in random number

I'm trying to create an array list using random numbers. But sometimes I get a zero in results. I do not understand why.
I'm grateful if anyone can explain.
int[] number = new int[6];
Random rnd = new Random();
for (int i = 0; i < number.Length; i++)
{
int random = rnd.Next(1, 26);
if (!number.Contains(random))
{
number[i] = random;
}
}
foreach (int nr in number)
{
Console.Write("|" + nr + "|");
}
//results
|6||12||0||22||25||11|

int[] number = new int[6];
Here number array is created with default int value i.e 0
The issue with your code is in some cases this value is not getting updated due to the check
if (!number.Contains(random))
You can change your code to include a loop to guarantee your random number doesn't lie in the array.
int[] number = new int[6];
Random rnd = new Random();
for (int i = 0; i < number.Length; i++)
{
int random = rnd.Next(1, 26);
while (number.Contains(random))
{
random = rnd.Next(1, 26);
}
number[i] = random;
}
foreach (int nr in number)
{
Console.Write("|" + nr + "|");
}
Please note that current approach is quite performance hungry as for every new random value we are iterating through entire array everytime to check if it exists. You can reduce the performance by using as HashSet<int> if possible

When you declare the array in following statement it initializes with 6 integers as 0
int[] number = new int[6];
While the random number generated for each array element, check for duplication in following statement may have resulted false
if (!number.Contains(random))
That's why it was never updated to new assigned number.
You can add else condition to it and regenerate random number

Just use your debugger to step through your code and inspect your variables to see what's happening. Apart from all the suggestions here, which are bad because they can loop way too many times or even forever, you appear to want to get 6 random, unique numbers between 1 and 26.
The de facto way to do that, is to generate a list with those numbers (Enumerable.Range()), shuffle them (Fisher-Yates) and Take() the first six.

Use while loop.
int[] number = new int[6];
Random rnd = new Random();
int i = 0;
while (i < number.Length)
{
int random = rnd.Next(1, 26);
if (!number.Contains(random))
{
number[i] = random;
i++;
}
}
foreach (int nr in number)
{
Console.Write("|" + nr + "|");
}

C#: Generate 100 random numbers between 1-1000 and output the max value

I'm very new to coding and I just can't wrap my head around Loops/Arrays/Randoms. I understand the concept but when it comes to applying it, I'm just lost.
Here I'm trying to generate 100 random numbers between 1-1000 and it has to output the maximum value. Here's my code so far:
Random rnd = new Random();
int nums = rnd.Next(0, 1001);
for (int i = 1; i <= 100; i++)
{
}
Console.WriteLine(nums);
Console.ReadLine();
It's only giving me one number. :(
I'd greatly appreciate any help!
Thanks!

You can accumulate your random generated number to the array and then by using Max function of the array you can find the maximum value
class Program
{
public static void Main(string[] args)
{
Random rnd = new Random();
int[] intArr = new int[100];
for (int i = 0; i < intArr.Length; i++)
{
int num = rnd.Next(1, 1000);
intArr[i] = num;
Console.WriteLine(num);
}
Console.WriteLine();
int maxNum = intArr.Max();
Console.WriteLine("The max num is:" + maxNum);
Console.ReadLine();
}
}
Click to watch online demo

You need to call rnd.Next() inside loop.
Random rnd = new Random();
for (int i = 1; i <= 100; i++)
{
int nums = rnd.Next(0, 1001);
Console.WriteLine(nums);
}
Console.ReadLine();

A good approach would be initializing a variable that stores your max. Then generate a random number within your iterative block and if it is greater than your max, set it as the new max.
Random r = new Random();
int max = 0; //declare our max variable
for(int i = 0; i < 100; i++)
{
int rand = r.Next(0, 1001);
if(rand > max) //if the new random value is greater than our max, set max = rand
max = rand;
}
Console.WriteLine(max); //Output the maximum value
Console.ReadLine();
If you want to output every random value and then output the max out of all the values generated, simply modify the code above by outputting rand within your loop as well.
Hope this helps!

I am not sure, are you asking like this?
Random random = new Random();
int[] nums = new int[100];
// when for loop ends, nums are full of 100 numbers
for (int i = 0; i < nums.Length; i++)
{
int newNum = random.Next(1, 1000);
// show every number
Console.WriteLine(newNum);
nums[i] = newNum;
}
// get the max number
var maxNum = nums.Max();
Console.WriteLine(maxNum);

If you want to see the code for Loops/Arrays/Randoms all working together you can use the below with the comments walking through what each line is doing (Working .NET Fiddle Example)
public static void Main()
{
// Pass in what range we want our randomly generated numbers to be in
// In your case, between 1 - 1000 and we want to create 100 of them.
//(See GenerateRandomNumbers())
var random = GenerateRandomNumbers(1, 1000, 100);
//Take our newly returned randomly created numbers and
//pass them to our GetMaxNumber method so it can find the Max number
//See (GetMaxNumber())
var result = GetMaxNumber(random);
//We now have our max number; print it to the Console.
Console.WriteLine("Max: " + result);
}
public static int GetMaxNumber(params int[] inputs)
{
//Create a variable that will store the largest number we find in our array
int max = inputs[0];
//Iterate (loop) through all of the 100 values in our array that we passed in
//Here we define "input" which will hold the value for each value in inputs as we check
//if the value of input is greater than our current value of max. If it is greater than our
//current value of max, then we need to update max to now be equal to the value of our input.
//Note: it will do this comparison 100 times beginning with the first value in the inputs array
foreach (var input in inputs)
{
if (input > max)
{
//input's value is greater than the current value of max; update max so that it is equal to the current value of input.
max = input;
}
//no more code; return to top of foreach loop and set input to the next value in inputs
}
//When we get here, it means our foreach loop has completed going through and comparing all 100 values of inputs to see which value is the largest.
//now return this value to Main()
return max;
}
public static int[] GenerateRandomNumbers(int beginRange, int endRange, int maxNumbers)
{
// Instantiate random number generator
Random rnd = new Random();
//Generate and display
int[] intArr = new int[maxNumbers];
//Generate 100 numbers with numbers between 1 and 1000
for (int i = 0; i < intArr.Length; i++)
{
int num = rnd.Next(beginRange, endRange);
intArr[i] = num;
}
return intArr;
}

Copy odd numbers from array into another array

Im new to programming and struggling with this task:
In array X [20] random numbers from 1 to 30 are entered, in array Y enter only odd numbers from array X.
Print down Y.
int[] x = new int[20];
Random rnd = new Random();
int counter = 0;
int[] y;
for (int i = 0; i < x.Length; i++)
{
x[i] = rnd.Next(1, 30);
if (x[i] % 2 !=0 )
{
y = new int[counter];
counter++;
y[counter] = x[i];
}
}
foreach (int number in y)
{
Console.WriteLine(number);
}
Im having problems to fill Y array with odd numbers without defining length of Y, I tried with adding counter but getting some errors all the time,
If someone can help me with some suggestions that would be helpful, thank you!

This looks like homework, so I guess using a more appropriate collection such as a List<int> is out of the question, just as using Linq.
At y = new int[counter]; you're reinitializing the array. This happens each iteration, so your final array only holds the latest added value, and all values before that will be set to their default: 0.
You could've seen this by debugging your code by setting breakpoints, stepping through the code and inspecting your variables. You could then also have provided a more proper problem description than "getting some errors".
If you know the input is never larger than 20, you can initialize the output array to the same size and keep a counter of how many values you copied (the latter of which you already do).
Then when printing, only print the elements up till that count with a for loop instead of foreach.
So something like this:
int[] x = new int[20];
int[] y = new int[x.Length];
Random rnd = new Random();
int counter = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < x.Length; i++)
{
x[i] = rnd.Next(1, 30);
if (x[i] % 2 != 0)
{
y[counter] = x[i];
counter++;
}
}
for (int i = 0; i < counter; i++)
{
Console.WriteLine(y[i]);
}

Your problem is that you create a new y array for each odd number you find. You need to create the array only once and then fill it.
Since you don't know how many odd numbers there will be, I suggest to use a List<int> instead:
int[] x = new int[20];
Random rnd = new Random();
List<int> y = new List<int>(); // create the list before the loop
for (int i = 0; i < x.Length; i++)
{
x[i] = rnd.Next(1, 30);
if (x[i] % 2 !=0 )
y.Add(x[i]); // add odd number to list
}
foreach (int number in y)
{
Console.WriteLine(number);
}

See, In your case you are not aware about the number of odd numbers in that random array. so Array will not be a right choice here if you are following the current implementation. If you want the output as array, then Why not a simple LINQ with Where like this example:
First you collect all random numbers to your array as you are doing currently:
int[] randomIntegers = new int[20];
Random rnd = new Random();
for (int i = 0; i < randomIntegers.Length; i++)
{
randomIntegers[i] = rnd.Next(1, 30);
}
Now you have the all random numbers in x now perform the following operation:
int[] oddValues = randomIntegers.Where(a=> a % 2 !=0).ToArray();

Works during debug, fails when run?

For some coursework I need to generate a normal magic square through brute force, this is part of the code. fyi; I'm not allowed to use any classes other than the commonly used. (I'm probably pushing my luck with Math.Pow)
I have the following method to generate a 2 dimensional of size NxN:
static int[,] GenerateSquare(int n)
{
int[,] sqarray = new int[n,n];
int[] rndarray = new int[n];
//puts completely random integers from 1 to n^2 in all elements of the square array (sqarray)
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
{
rndarray = FullRndArray(n);
for (int j = 0; j < n; j++)
{
sqarray[i, j] = rndarray[j];
}
}
return sqarray;
}
The FullRndArray() method is below:
static int[] FullRndArray(int n)
{
//creates an array of size n and fills with random intigers between 1 and n^2
int[] rndarray = new int[n];
Random rnd = new Random();
int ntothe2 = Convert.ToInt32(Math.Pow(n, 2));
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
rndarray[i] = rnd.Next(1, ntothe2 + 1);
return rndarray;
}
The problem is that when i run this code, the contents of each line is random, but each line of the square is the same as the last (ie 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 are the same as 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 and the same as 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 respectively). Yet when i go through debugger line by line, i end up with a perfectly random set of numbers in every space. Can anyone explain this error to me please?

This is the culprit:
Random rnd = new Random();
Random numbers are generated starting from a seed: same seed means same not-so-random sequence of numbers. Random uses the current time as seed, so when you run your code it runs so fast that you are creating two Randoms with the same seed, which then produce two identical rows. On the other hand, when you are debugging you let enough time pass and everything goes as expected.
The solution is to create an instance of Random, static or at the beginning of GenerateSquare, and use that one for the whole process.

I got exactly the same behavior that you describe.
This seems to work :
static int[,] GenerateSquare(int n)
{
int[,] sqarray = new int[n, n];
int[] rndarray = new int[n];
Random rnd = new Random();
//puts completely random integers from 1 to n^2 in all elements of the square array (sqarray)
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
{
rndarray = FullRndArray(n, rnd);
for (int j = 0; j < n; j++)
{
sqarray[i, j] = rndarray[j];
}
}
return sqarray;
}
static int[] FullRndArray(int n, Random rnd)
{
//creates an array of size n and fills with random intigers between 1 and n^2
int[] rndarray = new int[n];
int ntothe2 = Convert.ToInt32(Math.Pow(n, 2));
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
rndarray[i] = rnd.Next(1, ntothe2 + 1);
return rndarray;
}
I understand we must use the Random.Next() method on the same instance in order to be "really" random (as described in the BlackBear answer).
It probably worked during debug because you induced time laps between steps.

Avoiding random duplicates

System.Random generator = new Random(DateTime.Now.Millisecond);
int[] lotteryNumber = new int[7];
Console.WriteLine("Your lottery numbers: ");
for (int i = 0; i<7; i++)
{
lotteryNumber[i] = generator.Next(1, 37);
Console.Write("{0} ",lotteryNumber[i]);
}
Console.ReadLine();
I need to make a program that prints 7 lottery numbers, but without duplicates. The code above prints 7 random numbers in the range of (1-37), but duplicates appaer. I need a way to prevent duplicate numbers from appearing.

The simplest approach IMO would be to generate a sequence of all the possible numbers (i.e. 1-37), shuffle the collection, then take the first seven results.
Searching on Stack Overflow for "Fisher-Yates shuffle C#" will find lots of examples.
In fact, you could modify the Fisher-Yates shuffle to yield results as you took them, so you could write a method such as:
var numbers = Enumerable.Range(1, 37).Shuffle().Take(7).ToList();

You could take a dictionary but make sure that you prevent duplicate key insertion. Keys of dictionary would serve as the unique numbers you need

You could toss them into a HashSet<int>. If you Add and it returns false, generate a new number.

If you're trying to pick numbers from a range without repetitions, you need to create an array of all the possible numbers and then "shuffle" a random selection out:
int[] allPossibleNumbers = Enumerable.Range(1, 37).ToArray();
int[] lotteryNumber = new int[7];
for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++)
{
int index = r.Next(i, 37);
lotteryNumber[i] = allPossibleNumbers[index];
allPossibleNumbers[index] = allPossibleNumbers[i];
// This step not necessary, but allows you to reuse allPossibleNumbers
// rather than generating a fresh one every time.
// allPossibleNumbers[i] = lotteryNumber[i];
}

Generate a list with your 37 items.
Then in your for, select one and delete the selected

Maybe this could help, if you get the existing number just try to find new one that isn't in the array:
static void Main(string[] args)
{
System.Random generator = new Random(DateTime.Now.Millisecond); int[] lotteryNumber = new int[7];
Console.WriteLine("Your lottery numbers: ");
for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++)
{
int lNumber = 0;
do
{
lNumber = generator.Next(1, 37);
}
while (lotteryNumber.Contains(lNumber));
lotteryNumber[i] = lNumber;
Console.Write("{0} ", lotteryNumber[i]);
}
Console.ReadLine();
}

HashSet<int> set = new HashSet<int>();
System.Random generator = new Random(DateTime.Now.Millisecond);
while(set.Count < 7){
set.Add(generator.Next(1,37);
}
That should work, since a HashSet will automatically ignore duplicates. Just loop until the set reaches the number of units you need. Only potential problem is it has the POTENTIAL (unlikely) to loop for a long time, but it should eventually respond.

so I took your original code...found some logic errors and added the fix you were looking for to prevent random number duplicates.
Enjoy!
System.Random generator = new Random(DateTime.Now.Millisecond);
int[] lotteryNumber = new int[7];
int lowerBounds = 1;
int upperBounds = 8;
int maxNumberLotteryValues = 7;
if ( ( upperBounds - lowerBounds ) < (maxNumberLotteryValues))
{
Console.Write("Warning: Adjust your upper and lower bounds...there are not enough values to create a unique set of Lottery numbers! ");
}
else
{
Console.WriteLine("Your lottery numbers: ");
for (int i = 0; i < maxNumberLotteryValues; i++)
{
int nextNumber = generator.Next(lowerBounds, upperBounds);
int count = lowerBounds; //Prevent infinite loop
while ((lotteryNumber.Contains(nextNumber))
&& (count <= upperBounds))
{
nextNumber = generator.Next(lowerBounds, upperBounds);
count++; //Prevent infinite loop
}
lotteryNumber[i] = nextNumber;
Console.Write("{0} ", lotteryNumber[i]);
}
}
Console.ReadLine();

const int nBalls = 37;
const int nPicks = 6;
int[] balls = new int[nPicks];
Random rnd = new Random(DateTime.Now.Millisecond);
int remainingBalls=nBalls;
int remainingPicks=nPicks;
for (int i = 1; i <= nBalls; i++)
{
if (rnd.Next(1, remainingBalls+1) <= remainingPicks)
balls[--remainingPicks]=i;
remainingBalls--;
}
Console.WriteLine(string.Join(",",balls));
Will outperform Shuffle and HashSet methods as nPicks/nBalls gets larger.