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Groups > comp.lang.c > #397362
| From | Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> |
|---|---|
| Newsgroups | comp.lang.c |
| Subject | Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge |
| Date | 2026-04-02 22:10 +0300 |
| Organization | A noiseless patient Spider |
| Message-ID | <20260402221052.000015d9@yahoo.com> (permalink) |
| References | <20260401163447.000052de@yahoo.com> <10qk2e3$j5ho$3@dont-email.me> |
On Wed, 1 Apr 2026 17:24:19 -0400
DFS <nospam@dfs.com> wrote:
> On 4/1/2026 9:34 AM, Michael S wrote:
>
> > So, here is the challenge:
> > There are 20 sorts of cookies, 10 of each sort. They are placed in
> > 20 boxes, again, 10 cookies in each boxes. You have to take exactly
> > one cookie from each box, all 20 of different sorts.
>
>
> I say it's impossible (or extremely, extremely rare) to accomplish
> that if you have to:
>
> 1) fill the boxes randomly, and
> 2) make only one random choice from each box
>
>
> I can't understand your code, but it seems like you do a LOT more
> than just 1 and 2.
>
>
> Given those 2 constraints and using rand(), I saw a range of 9 to 16
> (out of 20), with a typical score of 11-12.
>
> Score = 1 point for each unique flavor you randomly choose. If you
> choose a flavor from box 2 that you already chose from box 1, you get
> 0 points.
>
> Here's that code:
>
>
> //public domain code
>
> #include <stdlib.h>
> #include <stdio.h>
> #include <string.h>
> #include <time.h>
>
>
> int main(void) {
>
> //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> //fill a box of 20 sections with 10 cookies each, from 20
> random //cookie flavors - duplicate flavors allowed in each section
> //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> //big beautiful box
> int *box = malloc(200 * sizeof(int));
>
> //randomly fill the box - this means all flavors might not be
> used srand(time(NULL));
> for (int i = 0; i < 200; i += 10) {
> for (int j = 0; j <= 9; j++) {
> int r = (rand() % 19) + 1;
> box[i+j] = r;
> }
> }
>
>
> //print contents of box column by row
> printf("----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n");
> printf(" Random flavors in each box -
> duplicate flavors allowed\n ");
> for (int i = 1; i <= 9; i++) {printf("%d ", i);}
> for (int i = 10; i <= 20; i++) {printf("%d ", i);}
> printf("\n----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n");
> int rows = 10, cols = 20, colwidth = 5;
> for (int r = 1; r <= rows; r++) {
> if (r <= 200) {
> int nbr = r-1;
> printf("%3d %-*c", r, colwidth, box[nbr]
> + 65); for (int i = 0; i < cols-1; i++) {
> nbr += rows;
> if (nbr <= 200) {
> printf("%-*c", colwidth,
> box[nbr] + 65); }
> }
> printf("\n");
> }
> }
> printf("----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n");
>
>
> //chose a random flavor, if it hasn't been used add it to the
> chosen array char chosen[150] = {0};
> char randoms[150] = {0};
> char theflavor[8], therandom[8];
> int chosencnt = 0;
> for (int i = 0; i < 200; i+=10) {
> int start = i; int end = i + 9;
> int r = (rand() % (end - start + 1)) + start;
> sprintf(theflavor," %c ", box[r] + 65);
> strncat(randoms , theflavor, strlen(theflavor));
> if (strstr(chosen, theflavor) == NULL) {
> strncat(chosen , theflavor,
> strlen(theflavor)); chosencnt++;
> }
> }
>
> printf("Random: %s\n", randoms);
> printf("Chosen: %s\n", chosen);
> printf("Score : %d\n", chosencnt);
>
> free(box);
> return 0;
> }
>
>
I'l look at your solution not before it is implemented according to
my spec: as a module solver.c that implements function solver() as
declared in solver.h and linkable with tb.c.
tb.c is provided for you to use for testing your solution. Don't waste
time writing your own main().
Back to comp.lang.c | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar
Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-01 16:34 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-01 10:02 -0400
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-01 17:15 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-01 10:28 -0400
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-01 17:58 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-01 15:20 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-01 17:56 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-01 19:50 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-01 15:56 -0400
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-01 23:33 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Richard Harnden <richard.nospam@gmail.invalid> - 2026-04-04 07:43 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-04 11:54 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-01 15:24 -0400
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-01 17:24 -0400
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Mike Terry <news.dead.person.stones@darjeeling.plus.com> - 2026-04-02 16:25 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-02 17:10 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-02 22:19 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-02 13:03 -0400
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Richard Harnden <richard.nospam@gmail.invalid> - 2026-04-02 18:52 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-02 19:50 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-02 22:24 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Mike Terry <news.dead.person.stones@darjeeling.plus.com> - 2026-04-02 20:13 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-02 22:36 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-02 22:14 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-02 22:10 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tristan Wibberley <tristan.wibberley+netnews2@alumni.manchester.ac.uk> - 2026-04-06 22:36 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-06 15:42 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-04-06 15:44 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-04 13:33 -0400
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-04 21:03 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2026-04-04 14:19 -0400
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-04 20:22 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-04 22:40 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-04 17:08 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-08 08:42 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-08 22:23 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-09 21:22 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-10 12:23 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-10 22:41 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-10 16:16 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-11 04:27 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-11 22:56 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-11 15:57 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-12 02:15 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-13 02:03 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-13 17:11 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-16 23:52 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-17 14:44 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-17 07:40 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-17 18:30 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-20 00:43 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-21 20:37 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-21 18:22 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-22 12:05 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-15 02:15 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-16 02:57 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-17 17:04 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-08 23:45 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-09 16:37 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-10 17:02 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-11 03:45 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-09 00:01 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-09 17:07 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-10 18:06 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-11 04:31 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-04-16 03:22 -0700
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-17 17:58 +0200
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-17 18:08 +0200
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-17 17:47 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-17 19:24 +0200
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-04-17 19:58 +0000
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-18 05:52 +0200
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-18 11:53 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-04-18 12:04 +0100
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-04-18 20:35 +0300
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-17 19:52 +0200
Re: Cookies in boxes - algorithmic challenge Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2026-04-17 20:17 +0200
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