Thread: How To Get A Random Generated Output From A Coin Flip Program?

I have a homework assignment where I have to create a program that will flip a coin once and output "heads" / "tails" and afterwards prompts user if they want to flip again. If the user inputs "yes" program will flip coin than end, if user inputs "no" program will end.

The issue I am running into is that the program only outputs the same side and does not give a random output.

---

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h> 



char flip;


void coinLoop()
{
for ( int i = 0; i < 1; i++ )
{

// loop start

if (rand() % 2 == 0)
{
printf("Heads\n");


} else 
{
printf("Tails\n");
}


}
}  


int main()
{


printf("\n\n"); //visual purposes


coinLoop(); //function for first coin flip


printf("\n\n"); //visual purposes 


printf("Flip Coin? \n");
scanf(" %c", &flip);


if (flip == 'y') // will allow for coin to be flipped if user inputs yes 
{
printf("\n");


coinLoop();

} else if (flip == 'n')
{
return 0;
}




return 0;
}

The fact that Ive been struggling with this for like 3 days, and it was just missing this!

Thank you so much for your help, the program is giving random output now, I also had to include the C Library <time.h> to be able use srand(time(0));

Code:

 

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h> // allowed the use of rand() function
#include <time.h>   // allowed the use of srand() function
                  


char flip;


void coinLoop()
{
   for ( int i = 0; i < 1; i++ ) // flips coin once
    {
        
    // loop start
    if (rand() % 2 == 0)
    {
        printf("Coin Flip: *Heads*\n");


    } else 
    {
        printf("Coin Flip: *Tails*\n");
    }


    }
}                  


int main()
{


    printf("\n\n"); //visual purposes


    srand(time(0)); // this function allowed me to get a random output everytime 


    coinLoop(); //function for first coin flip


    printf("\n\n"); //visual purposes 


     printf("Flip Coin Again? \n\n");
     scanf(" %c", &flip);


     if (flip == 'y' || flip == 'Y') 
     {
         printf("\n");


         coinLoop();
         
     } else if (flip == 'n' || flip == 'N')
     {
         printf("\n"); // visual purposes


         printf("*PROGRAM ENDED*\n\n");


         return 0;
     }




    return 0;
}

By the way, the two output sides might be different, but they will always be the same every time the program is ran if you don't use srand. For example, in my case, your original code output Tails and then Heads for me.