Random Number Excluding Specified Value in Array

[AP]

Hello
Any suggestions on the most efficient way to generate a random number
from a range that will not return values specified in an array?

[Andy Hassall]

Re: Random Number Excluding Specified Value in Array

On 17 Jul 2006 12:49:33 -0700, "AP" <megacrosstab@g reenixsolutions .comwrote:

>Any suggestions on the most efficient way to generate a random number
>from a range that will not return values specified in an array?

Depends how many values you have in the array compared with the overall range
of random numbers. If the number of values is small and the random value range
large, a simple "try-check array-retry as necessary" loop is likely to be the
most practical approach - although it'll degrade in performance as the
proportions of the two change and a significant percentage of the range is
marked as "used".

--
Andy Hassall :: andy@andyh.co.u k :: http://www.andyh.co.uk
http://www.andyhsoftware.co.uk/space :: disk and FTP usage analysis tool

[Rik]

Re: Random Number Excluding Specified Value in Array

AP wrote:

Hello
Any suggestions on the most efficient way to generate a random number
from a range that will not return values specified in an array?

Euhm, I am not really sure what you mean. Like this?

For integers:
function
rand_number_wit hout_certain_va lues_for_some_r eason($start,$e nd,$not){
$i = 0;
do{
$i++;
if($i 5000) return false;
$int = mt_renc($start, $end);
} while (is_array($not) && in_array($int,$ not));
return $int;
}

Had to build in safety (the $i) to avoid endless looping when using
something like (1,4,array(rang e(1,4)))

Grtz,
--
Rik Wasmus

[Rik]

Re: Random Number Excluding Specified Value in Array

Andy Hassall wrote:

On 17 Jul 2006 12:49:33 -0700, "AP"
<megacrosstab@g reenixsolutions .comwrote:
>

>Any suggestions on the most efficient way to generate a random number
>from a range that will not return values specified in an array?

>
Depends how many values you have in the array compared with the
overall range of random numbers. If the number of values is small and
the random value range large, a simple "try-check array-retry as
necessary" loop is likely to be the most practical approach -
although it'll degrade in performance as the proportions of the two
change and a significant percentage of the range is marked as "used".

Hmmz, you've got a point.
If the second case:
function get_rand_except ($start,$end,$n ot){
if(!is_array($n ot) || empty($not)) return mt_rand($start, $end); //we
don't bother when $not is empty....
$values = range($start,$e nd); //numbers in range
$choosable = array_diff($val ues,$not); //remove unwanted numbers
if(count($choos able)==0) return false; //check wether we can choose
anything
$choosable = array_value($ch oosable): //to reset array keys
return $choosable[mt_rand(0,count ($choosable)-1]; //return by random key
}

Grtz,
--
Rik Wasmus

[Chung Leong]

Re: Random Number Excluding Specified Value in Array

Rik wrote:

Hmmz, you've got a point.
If the second case:
function get_rand_except ($start,$end,$n ot){
if(!is_array($n ot) || empty($not)) return mt_rand($start, $end); //we
don't bother when $not is empty....
$values = range($start,$e nd); //numbers in range
$choosable = array_diff($val ues,$not); //remove unwanted numbers
if(count($choos able)==0) return false; //check wether we can choose
anything
$choosable = array_value($ch oosable): //to reset array keys
return $choosable[mt_rand(0,count ($choosable)-1]; //return by random key
}
>
Grtz,
--
Rik Wasmus

That's rather expensive. There is really no need to remap every number
within the range. You only need to remap the holes. Say you want a
random number from 1 to 100, excluding 34, 62, and 87. What we can do
is map 34 to 100, 62 to 99, 87 to 98 with a hash table. Then we get a
random number from 1 to 97 and check the hash for a replacement value.

[boclair]

Re: Random Number Excluding Specified Value in Array

AP wrote:

Hello
Any suggestions on the most efficient way to generate a random number
from a range that will not return values specified in an array?
>

No doubt better methods but a quick thought

$fulllist = range(1, 12);
shuffle($fullli st);
$vetolist = array (2,3,7,8);

$alive = array_diff($ful llist, $vetolist);

foreach ($alive as $value) {
echo "$value, ";
}

Louise