srand(time(NULL)) generating similar results [duplicate]

Answer 1

Make sure you're doing

srand ( time(NULL) );
while(condition) {
    int x = rand();
    cout << x << endl;
}

and not

while(condition) {
    srand ( time(NULL) );
    int x = rand();
    cout << x << endl;
}

The first way the seed is changed every iteration. The second way you are performing the random function on a very similar seed each iteration (because time doesn't change much).