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Re: Re: bug in RandomChoice if weight is zero?

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg106073] Re: [mg106025] Re: bug in RandomChoice if weight is zero?
  • From: DrMajorBob <btreat1 at austin.rr.com>
  • Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:20:56 -0500 (EST)
  • References: <hhc72h$2k5$1@smc.vnet.net> <200912300916.EAA17459@smc.vnet.net>
  • Reply-to: drmajorbob at yahoo.com

Yes, but even so. zero-probability events shouldn't occur in samples.

Hence, the documentation simply contradicts itself.

Bobby

On Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:16:58 -0600, dh <dh at metrohm.com> wrote:

> Hi Mathias,
> from the manual:
> "RandomSample[{Subscript[e, 1],Subscript[e, 2],\[Ellipsis]},n] never
> samples any of the Subscript[e, i] more than once."
> Daniel
>
> On 29 Dez., 07:20, Matthias Greiff <gre... at mac.com> wrote:
>> If I use RandomChoice with weights of zero the corresponding elements  
>> will never be selected.
>>
>> In[62]:= RandomChoice[{0, 0, 3} -> {3, 2, 1}, 5]
>> Out[62]= {1, 1, 1, 1, 1}
>>
>> Why is it not the same if I use RandomSample?
>> The following command
>>
>> RandomSample[{1, 2, 0} -> Range[3], 2]
>>
>> returns either {1,2} or {2,1}. But when I change the command to sample  
>> size 3  I get the following.
>>
>> In[60]:= RandomSample[{1, 2, 0} -> Range[3], 3]
>> Out[60]= {2, 1, 3}
>>
>> Why is the third element selected? Shouldn't Mathematica return an  
>> error message because the sample size is larger than the population  
>> size?
>>
>> Appreciate your answers.
>>
>> Merry Christmas!
>>
>> Matthias
>
>


-- 
DrMajorBob at yahoo.com


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