help with number manipulation 1

kawnz · Feb 13, 2003

What I want to do:
I have a generated random number, in which I want to underline one value randomly.

eg... I need 827,362

to show up as 827,362 one time and next time maybe
have it show as 827,362.

In case you're wondering, it's for a script to try and teach kids about placement value. So in the first example, I want them to tell me that the 2 (underlined), is in the ten-thousandth place.

I am not sure how to approach it. I did this very long thing (which works), but there has to be a better way to do it.

$min=0;
$max=9;
srand((double) microtime()*1000000);
$rn1 = rand($min,$max);
$rn2 = rand($min,$max);
$rn3 = rand($min,$max);
$rn4 = rand($min,$max);
$rn5 = rand($min,$max);
$rn6 = rand($min,$max);

if ($rn1!=0) {
$u = rand(1,6);
if ($u==1) {$ru1 = "" . $rn1 . "";} else {$ru1=$rn1;}
if ($u==2) {$ru2 = "" . $rn2 . "";} else {$ru2=$rn2;}
if ($u==3) {$ru3 = "" . $rn3 . "";} else {$ru3=$rn3;}
if ($u==4) {$ru4 = "" . $rn4 . "";} else {$ru4=$rn4;}
if ($u==5) {$ru5 = "" . $rn5 . "";} else {$ru5=$rn5;}
if ($u==6) {$ru6 = "" . $rn6 . "";} else {$ru6=$rn6;}
echo "$ru1$ru2$ru3,$ru4$ru5$ru6";
}
else if ($rn2!=0) {
$u = rand(2,6);
if ($u==2) {$ru2 = "" . $rn2 . "";} else {$ru2=$rn2;}
if ($u==3) {$ru3 = "" . $rn3 . "";} else {$ru3=$rn3;}
if ($u==4) {$ru4 = "" . $rn4 . "";} else {$ru4=$rn4;}
if ($u==5) {$ru5 = "" . $rn5 . "";} else {$ru5=$rn5;}
if ($u==6) {$ru6 = "" . $rn6 . "";} else {$ru6=$rn6;}
echo "$ru2$ru3,$ru4$ru5$ru6";
}
else if ($rn3!=0) {
$u = rand(3,6);
if ($u==3) {$ru3 = "" . $rn3 . "";} else {$ru3=$rn3;}
if ($u==4) {$ru4 = "" . $rn4 . "";} else {$ru4=$rn4;}
if ($u==5) {$ru5 = "" . $rn5 . "";} else {$ru5=$rn5;}
if ($u==6) {$ru6 = "" . $rn6 . "";} else {$ru6=$rn6;}
echo "$ru3,$ru4$ru5$ru6";
}
else if ($rn4!=0) {
$u = rand(4,6);
if ($u==4) {$ru4 = "" . $rn4 . "";} else {$ru4=$rn4;}
if ($u==5) {$ru5 = "" . $rn5 . "";} else {$ru5=$rn5;}
if ($u==6) {$ru6 = "" . $rn6 . "";} else {$ru6=$rn6;}
echo "$ru4$ru5$ru6";
}
else if ($rn5!=0) {
$u = rand(5,6);
if ($u==5) {$ru5 = "" . $rn5 . "";} else {$ru5=$rn5;}
if ($u==6) {$ru6 = "" . $rn6 . "";} else {$ru6=$rn6;}
echo "$ru5$ru6";
}
else if ($rn6!=0) {
$ru6 = "" . $rn6 . "";
echo "$ru6";
}

sleipnir214 · Feb 13, 2003

This looks like a good place to use an array to me....

Code:

<?php
$number_length = 6;
$min_digit = 0;
$max_digit = 9;

$power_array = array ('ones', 'tens', 'hundreds', 'thousands', 'ten thousands', 'hundred thousands');
$number_array = array();

for ($counter = 0; $counter < $number_length; $counter++)
{
	$number_array[$counter] = rand ($min_digit, $max_digit);
}

$underline = rand(1, $number_length - 1);
$power = $number_length - $underline - 1;

print '<html><body>';

for ($counter = 0; $counter < $number_length; $counter++)
{
	if ($counter == $underline)
	{
		print '<u>';
	}
	print $number_array[$counter];
	if ($counter == $underline)
	{
		print '</u>';
	}
}
print '<br>';
print 'Underlined number is in the ' . $power_array[$power] . ' place';

print '</html></body>';
?>

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!

kawnz · Feb 13, 2003

Thank you very much

I figured an array would be the way to go, but wasn't sure how to go about it. The whole numberlength thing didn't even occur to me, but it makes perfect sense.

(I created my first working array from scratch today btw LOL)

Now people, please don't get mad at sleipnir providing the code. We all need examples to learn

Thanks again.

kawnz · Feb 13, 2003

just FYI, I added a condition in there - if $counter==0 to make the minimum digit a 1, instead of a 0. That way, I don't end up with 027267.

I also made the $underline min number a 0 - else it wouldn't put the underline under the 900,000 place

It works like a charm

) and I thank you muchly.

sleipnir214 · Feb 13, 2003

Usually, I am the one decrying the posting of code. But in this case, you'd posted yourself something that worked -- it just looked like you were having a problem getting comfortable with PHP's arrays.

Posting code was the quickest way to demonstrate the underlying concepts. Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!

Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!

Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!

help with number manipulation 1

kawnz

Technical User

sleipnir214

Programmer

kawnz

Technical User

kawnz

Technical User

sleipnir214

Programmer

Similar threads

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor