# Re: Mix and Match (#186) **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [December 15, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-mix-and-match-186/155686 "2008-12-15T16:27:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-mix-and-match-186/155686/1 "2008-12-15T16:27:46Z")
Is it possible to post a solution already? (I guess the question is poetical, just strange that no one posted one yet - was it so hard, or no one has time amidst the pre-XMas craze, or… ?) Cheers, Peter * * * [http://scrubyt.org](http://scrubyt.org) [http://www.rubyrailways.com](http://www.rubyrailways.com) ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-mix-and-match-186/155686/2 "2008-12-15T16:39:34Z")
On Dec 15, 2008, at 9:19 AM, removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote: > Is it possible to post a solution already? (I guess the question is > poetical, just strange that no one posted one yet - was it so hard, > or no > one has time amidst the pre-XMas craze, or… ?) Perhaps a little harder than it may appear, or as you suggest, people may be busy. In the worst case, a brute force solution should be easy to do. I may try this later today, or tomorrow, once I’m done with the last papers I need for school and some other errands. ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-mix-and-match-186/155686/3 "2008-12-15T22:52:26Z")
On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 3:31 PM, Matthew M. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > On Dec 15, 2008, at 9:19 AM, removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote: > > Is it possible to post a solution already? (I guess the question is > > > poetical, just strange that no one posted one yet - was it so hard, or no > > one has time amidst the pre-XMas craze, or… ?) > > Perhaps a little harder than it may appear, or as you suggest, people may > be busy. In the worst case, a brute force solution should be easy to do. Seeing as how this quiz has been so quiet, here’s a v quick (and very brute force!) attempt: [http://pastie.org/339925](http://pastie.org/339925) - - please be kind! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-mix-and-match-186/155686/4 "2008-12-16T01:49:42Z")
On 15.12.2008, at 23:07 , Matthew M. wrote: > > > > hard, or no > > > > very brute > > What I meant is that if I give Janet garden/lavender/orange, I > should not also give Nancy garden/lavender/orange. I want a distinct > combination for each recipient. I am not about to partake but these requirements seem to conflict, no? ppl = [:janet, :nancy, :betty] candles = [:lavender =\> 3, :garden =\> 3, :orange =\> 3]. the following seems like the best answer to me but contains duplication, lav, lav, ger gar, or, or gar, or, lav the “uniquest” would be: lav, lav, lav gar, gar, gar or. or. or but it has more duplication whereas the least duplication has no uniqueness: lav, gar, or lav, gar, or lav, gar, or How is uniqueness supposed to be balanced against duplication? einarmagnus ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-mix-and-match-186/155686/5 "2008-12-16T00:15:32Z")
On Dec 15, 2008, at 3:44 PM, steven shingler wrote: > > Perhaps a little harder than it may appear, or as you suggest, > > people may > > be busy. In the worst case, a brute force solution should be easy > > to do. > > Seeing as how this quiz has been so quiet, here’s a v quick (and > very brute > force!) attempt: [http://pastie.org/339925](http://pastie.org/339925) - - please be kind! 🙂 Minor point… I probably wasn’t clear by “minimize group duplication.” In your code, you use dup\_count in an attempt to avoid having a particular recipient’s gift contain duplication candles. Actually, I like this requirement, although it wasn’t what I meant. (Other subs: please try and make each gift without candle duplication.) What I meant is that if I give Janet garden/lavender/orange, I should not also give Nancy garden/lavender/orange. I want a distinct combination for each recipient. ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:21am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-mix-and-match-186/155686/6 "2008-12-16T02:21:52Z")
> But seriously, it will depend on the input. If I had to choose between > those options, I’d prefer to give individuals a variety of fragrances > (avoid duplication more than enforcing uniqueness). oops that sucks (should have read the quiz more carefully) - my solution is enforcing uniqueness but doesn’t care about duplication at all ☹ Shouldn’t take too much effort to add that though… will do tomorrow. Cheers, Peter * * * [http://scrubyt.org](http://scrubyt.org) [http://www.rubyrailways.com](http://www.rubyrailways.com) ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-mix-and-match-186/155686/7 "2008-12-16T02:07:51Z")
On Dec 15, 2008, at 6:41 PM, Einar Magnús Boson wrote: > > > > On Dec 15, 2008, at 9:19 AM, removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote: > > > > to do. > > > > In your code, you use dup\_count in an attempt to avoid having a > > gar, or, lav > lav, gar, or > lav, gar, or > lav, gar, or > > How is uniqueness supposed to be balanced against duplication? By buying more candles. 😃 But seriously, it will depend on the input. If I had to choose between those options, I’d prefer to give individuals a variety of fragrances (avoid duplication more than enforcing uniqueness). ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-mix-and-match-186/155686/8 "2008-12-16T03:08:03Z")
> But seriously, it will depend on the input. If I had to choose between > those options, I’d prefer to give individuals a variety of fragrances > (avoid duplication more than enforcing uniqueness). Ok so a beefed up version (no duplicates if possible, and as unique as possible): [http://pastie.org/339995](http://pastie.org/339995) Cheers, Peter * * * [http://scrubyt.org](http://scrubyt.org) [http://www.rubyrailways.com](http://www.rubyrailways.com)