How do you generate random numbers in SAS?

Generating random numbers in SAS is typically accomplished through the DATA step using functions specifically designed for that purpose, such as RANUNI and RAND. The RANUNI function generates uniformly distributed random numbers between 0 and 1, while the RAND function can generate random numbers from various distributions, including uniform, normal, and others, depending on the specified parameters.

Utilizing the DATA step allows for flexibility in incorporating random number generation into data manipulation and analysis processes, enabling users to create datasets with random samples or to conduct simulations.

In contrast, the other choices involve procedures that do not specifically address random number generation. PROC SORT is used for organizing data in a particular order, the SUM function computes the total of numeric variables, and PROC MEANS provides descriptive statistics. None of these options serve the purpose of creating random numbers, highlighting why the chosen option stands out as the appropriate method for this task.