Introduction to ActionScript 2.0/Math Class
Key concepts:
Maths are very important in Flash applications. Let's learn how to use mathematical functions in ActionScript!
Handling numbers
[edit | edit source]There are several functions of the Math class that can manipulate numbers for us:
- Math.abs(Number): Finds the absolute value of a number
- Math.ceil(Number): Rounds a number up to the nearest integer
- Math.floor(Number): Rounds a number down to the nearest integer
- Math.round(Number): Rounds a number off to the nearest integer
- Math.max(Number 1, Number 2): Returns the larger of two numbers
- Math.min(Number 1, Number 2): Returns the smaller of two numbers
- Math.random(): Returns a random number smaller than 1 and larger than or equal to 0
Let's look at a quick example:
| Code | Result |
|---|---|
var myNumber:Number = -12.3;
trace(Math.abs(myNumber));
trace(Math.ceil(myNumber));
trace(Math.floor(myNumber));
trace(Math.round(myNumber));
trace(Math.max(Math.ceil(myNumber), Math.floor(myNumber)));
trace(Math.min(Math.ceil(myNumber), Math.floor(myNumber)));
trace(Math.floor(Math.random() * 12)+1);
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Note the technique used in the last line to produce random numbers. Math.random() is multiplied by 12, rounded down (giving a random integer from 0 to 11) and then one is added (giving a random integer from 1 to 12).