How to generate random positive integers that sum to N in Go

1 Answer

0 votes
package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "math/rand"
    "sort"
    "time"
)

/*
    Generate k random positive integers that sum to n.

    Algorithm (stick-breaking / random composition):
    ------------------------------------------------
    1. We choose (k - 1) random "cut points" in the range [1, n - 1].
       These represent where we "break" the integer n into k parts.

    2. Sort the cut points.

    3. Compute the differences between consecutive points
       (including 0 and n as boundaries). These differences
       are the k positive integers that sum to n.

    This produces a uniformly random composition of n.
*/

/*
    Paper Run (Dry Run) of the Random-Sum Program
    ---------------------------------------------

    Input:
        n = 50
        k = 7

    We need (k - 1) = 6 random cut points in the range [1, 49].

    Simulated rand() outputs (rand() % 49):
        12, 3, 40, 25, 7, 33

    After adding +1 (because the code uses 1 + rand() % (n - 1)):
        cuts = {13, 4, 41, 26, 8, 34}

    Step 1: Sort the cut points
        cuts → {4, 8, 13, 26, 34, 41}

    Step 2: Convert cut points into segment lengths
        prev = 0

        out[0] = 4  - 0  = 4
        prev = 4

        out[1] = 8  - 4  = 4
        prev = 8

        out[2] = 13 - 8  = 5
        prev = 13

        out[3] = 26 - 13 = 13
        prev = 26

        out[4] = 34 - 26 = 8
        prev = 34

        out[5] = 41 - 34 = 7
        prev = 41

        out[6] = 50 - 41 = 9   (final segment)

    Final result:
        parts = {4, 4, 5, 13, 8, 7, 9}

    Verification:
        4 + 4 + 5 + 13 + 8 + 7 + 9 = 50

    Output:

        Random parts that sum to 50:
        4 4 5 13 8 7 9
        Sum = 50
*/

func generateRandomSum(n int, k int) []int {
    if k <= 0 || n < k {
        // k positive integers must sum to n → minimum sum is k
        panic("Invalid n or k")
    }

    rand.Seed(time.Now().UnixNano())

    cuts := make([]int, k-1)

    // Generate (k - 1) random cut points in [1, n - 1]
    for i := 0; i < k-1; i++ {
        cuts[i] = 1 + rand.Intn(n-1)
    }

    // Sort the cut points so we can compute segment lengths
    sort.Ints(cuts)

    result := make([]int, 0, k)
    prev := 0

    // Convert cut points into segment lengths
    for _, c := range cuts {
        result = append(result, c-prev)
        prev = c
    }

    // Last segment: from last cut to n
    result = append(result, n-prev)

    return result
}

func main() {
    n := 50 // total sum
    k := 7  // number of random parts

    parts := generateRandomSum(n, k)

    fmt.Printf("Random parts that sum to %d:\n", n)
    for _, x := range parts {
        fmt.Printf("%d ", x)
    }
    fmt.Println()

    // Verify sum
    sum := 0
    for _, x := range parts {
        sum += x
    }
    fmt.Println("Sum =", sum)
}


/*
run:

Random parts that sum to 50:
7 4 10 6 8 5 10
Sum = 50

*/

 



answered 4 days ago by avibootz
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