Question: Reference: [link text](http://download.oracle.com/javase/1.4.2/docs/api/java/util/Random.html)

i cannot understand the following line , can anybody provide me some example for the below statement?

If two instances of Random are created with the same seed, and the same sequence of method calls is made for each, they will generate and return identical sequences of numbers

Answer: 
The random generator is *deterministic*. Given the same input to Random and the same usage of the methods in Random, the sequence of pseudo-random numbers returned to your program will be the same even in different runs on different machines.

This is why it is pseudo-random - the numbers returned *behave* statistically like random numbers except they can be reliably predicted. True random numbers are unpredictable.
With the same seed value, separate instances of Random will return/generate the same sequence of random numbers; more on this here:
<http://www.particle.kth.se/~lindsey/JavaCourse/Book/Part1/Tech/Chapter04/javaRandNums.html>

Ruby Example:

```
class LCG; def initialize(seed=Time.now.to_i, a=2416, b=374441, m=1771075); @x, @a, @b, @m = seed % m, a, b, m; end; def next(); @x = (@a * @x + @b) % @m; end; end

irb(main):004:0> time = Time.now.to_i
=> 1282908389

irb(main):005:0> r = LCG.new(time)
=> #<LCG:0x0000010094f578 @x=650089, @a=2416, @b=374441, @m=1771075>
irb(main):006:0> r.next
=> 45940
irb(main):007:0> r.next
=> 1558831
irb(main):008:0> r.next
=> 1204687
irb(main):009:0> f = LCG.new(time)
=> #<LCG:0x0000010084cb28 @x=650089, @a=2416, @b=374441, @m=1771075>
irb(main):010:0> f.next
=> 45940
irb(main):011:0> f.next
=> 1558831
irb(main):012:0> f.next
=> 1204687

```

Based on the values a/b/m, the result will be the same for a given seed. This can be used to generate the same "random" number in two places and both sides can depend on getting the same result. This can be useful for encryption; although obviously, this algorithm isn't cryptographically secure.