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Groups > comp.lang.c > #168657

Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set

From Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set
Date 2022-12-27 16:18 +0000
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <874jtgn7ls.fsf@bsb.me.uk> (permalink)
References <todbqe$16sg$1@gioia.aioe.org>

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Albert <invalid@gmail.com> writes:

> Is this the best way to generate unique random numbers in a set of 6 
> numbers?

No, but it's a valiant attempt!

It has a few issues.  First, the number of chosen numbers (6) is
hard-wired into the function as a repeated code pattern.  You want to
avoid both repeated code and code the represents something that is,
essentially, data.

You want to aim for a function that takes two numbers, the upper bound
of the numbers that can be chosen and the number of number to be
chosen.  Personally, I'd also pass a pointer to where the chosen numbers
should be written.

But the biggest problem is the algorithm.  Unless the range of possible
choices is vast (and in your case it is only 60) the best method is to
run through this range, picking each number with the correct
probability.

What is the probability that 1 should be chosen?  Well, it's 6/60.
That's easy and if we have a function

  bool true_with_probability(int n, in m);

that returns true n out of m times we can add 1 to the collection (or in
your case, just print 1) simply by calling true_with_probability(6, 60)
in an if statement.

Now what is the probability that 2 (the next possible candidate) should
be chosen?  Well that depends on what has gone before.  If we chose 1
previously then we should choose 2 with probability 5/59, but if we did
not, it should be with probability 6/59.

I wonder if you can see the pattern and turn it into code using
variables.  You'll have parameters giving the range and the number of
numbers to pick as well as local variables that track the number of
numbers considered so far and the number of numbers chosen so far.

I'm happy to post code, but I think you should try for yourself first.

> <******************************************************>
>
> void generateNumbers()
> {
>      int val1, val2, val3, val4, val5, val6;
>
>      val1 = rand() % 59 + 1;
>      printf("%4d", val1);
>
>      val2 = rand() % 59 + 1;
>      while (val2 == val1)
>      {
>          val2 = rand() % 59 + 1;
>      }
>      printf("%4d", val2);
>
>      val3 = rand() % 59 + 1;
>      while (val3 == val1 || val3 == val2)
>      {
>          val3 = rand() % 59 + 1;
>      }
>      printf("%4d", val3);
>
>      val4 = rand() % 59 + 1;
>      while (val4 == val1 || val4 == val2 || val4 == val3)
>      {
>          val4 = rand() % 59 + 1;
>      }
>      printf("%4d", val4);
>
>      val5 = rand() % 59 + 1;
>      while (val5 == val1 || val5 == val2 || val5 == val3 || val5 == val4)
>      {
>          val5 = rand() % 59 + 1;
>      }
>      printf("%4d", val5);
>
>      val6 = rand() % 59 + 1;
>      while (val6 == val1 || val6 == val2 || val6 == val3 || val6 == val4 
> || val6 == val5)
>      {
>          val6 = rand() % 59 + 1;
>      }
>      printf("%4d", val6);
>      printf("\n");
> }
> <******************************************************>
>
> The main prog using this function:
> #include <stdio.h>
> #include <stdlib.h>
> #include<windows.h>
>
> int main(void)
> {
>      for (int i = 0; i < 100; i++)
>      {
>          generateNumbers();
>          Sleep(1000);
>      }
>      return 0;
> }

-- 
Ben.

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Thread

Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Albert <invalid@gmail.com> - 2022-12-26 23:45 +0000
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2022-12-26 16:52 -0800
    Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set tTh <tth@none.invalid> - 2022-12-27 02:44 +0100
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2022-12-27 13:35 -0800
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2022-12-26 20:47 -0500
    Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-12-27 15:57 +0000
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2022-12-27 11:16 -0500
        Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-12-27 16:59 +0000
          Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2022-12-27 12:24 -0500
            Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-12-27 17:53 +0000
              Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2022-12-27 13:50 -0500
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-12-27 20:08 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2022-12-27 15:31 -0500
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-12-28 02:57 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2022-12-27 23:02 -0500
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-12-29 02:06 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2022-12-28 23:42 -0500
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-12-29 12:26 +0000
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2022-12-27 07:34 -0800
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-12-27 16:18 +0000
    Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Mike Terry <news.dead.person.stones@darjeeling.plus.com> - 2022-12-28 01:08 +0000
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-12-28 03:30 +0000
    Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2022-12-27 19:42 -0800
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Manu Raju <MR@invalid.invalid> - 2022-12-27 18:11 +0000
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set antispam@math.uni.wroc.pl - 2022-12-28 01:32 +0000
    Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2022-12-27 21:13 -0500
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2022-12-27 19:48 -0800
        Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2022-12-27 23:06 -0500
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set antispam@math.uni.wroc.pl - 2022-12-29 19:47 +0000
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set jak <nospam@please.ty> - 2022-12-28 11:28 +0100
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Rosario19 <Ros@invalid.invalid> - 2023-01-01 21:06 +0100
    Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Rosario19 <Ros@invalid.invalid> - 2023-01-02 06:43 +0100
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2023-01-01 23:19 +0000
    Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set jak <nospam@please.ty> - 2023-01-02 07:28 +0100
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set jak <nospam@please.ty> - 2023-01-02 08:48 +0100
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2023-01-01 23:53 -0800
        Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2023-01-02 01:18 -0800
    Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2023-01-02 13:49 +0000
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-01-02 12:27 +0000
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2023-01-02 12:13 -0500
    Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-01-02 17:31 +0000
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2023-01-02 12:46 -0500
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Siri Cruise <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2023-01-02 18:54 -0800
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2023-01-02 20:52 -0800
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-01-03 09:01 +0100
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2023-01-03 07:28 -0800
        Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2023-01-03 15:46 +0000
          Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2023-01-03 18:19 +0100
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-08 03:48 +0100
    Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-08 04:18 +0100
    Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2023-01-08 03:48 +0000
      Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-08 05:12 +0100
        Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-08 06:01 +0100
          Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-01-08 14:48 +0000
            Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-08 18:22 +0100
              Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-01-08 17:46 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-09 04:58 +0100
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-01-09 11:26 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-09 15:57 +0100
            Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-01-08 17:34 +0000
              Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ike Naar <ike@sdf.org> - 2023-01-08 21:45 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-01-08 23:13 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2023-01-08 15:18 -0800
          Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Paavo Helde <eesnimi@osa.pri.ee> - 2023-01-08 21:19 +0200
          Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set "Alf P. Steinbach" <alf.p.steinbach@gmail.com> - 2023-01-09 12:03 +0100
            Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-09 17:42 +0100
              Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-01-09 14:48 -0800
              Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-01-09 23:22 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-01-09 18:28 -0800
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-01-09 18:44 -0800
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-01-10 03:08 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-01-09 19:19 -0800
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-01-10 17:30 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-01-10 09:45 -0800
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-01-10 02:57 +0000
              Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-13 08:26 +0100
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2023-01-13 03:32 -0800
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2023-01-13 12:21 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-13 14:11 +0100
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2023-01-13 13:55 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-13 15:02 +0100
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2023-01-13 14:17 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-15 16:06 +0100
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2023-01-15 16:27 +0000
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-15 17:42 +0100
                Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2023-01-15 17:11 +0000
        Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set tTh <tth@none.invalid> - 2023-01-08 10:13 +0100
          Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2023-01-08 10:25 +0100
            Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2023-01-08 13:20 +0000
    Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2023-01-08 13:09 -0800
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2023-01-09 02:37 +0000
  Re: Compute Unique Numbers in a Set John Forkosh <forkosh@panix.com> - 2023-01-15 02:49 +0000

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