The nice thing is you can test the distribution when you are done to determine, statistically, if everything is distributed evenly. So a test in this case is really important. I would develop your testing algorithm (as suggested earlier first) and then work on the actual distribution algorithm. Now then. Once we have a test here is what you do. This is a sure fire method and is at least one correct solution.
Assumption 1: You have, basically, an infinite amount of time per distribution. Assumption 2: You can find an infinite supply of monkeys and keyboards. Set the infinite monkeys jumping on keyboards and sample the output they generate until it fits a perfect distribution per group. Voila. Thanks, Jeremy On Fri, Jul 25, 2008 at 5:25 PM, Tepfer, Seth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I have a challenge laid out before me. I need to divide the incoming Oxford > student class into 25 groups of about 16 or 17 students each. However, they > want the groups to be as balanced as possible, across number, sex, race, and > geographic origin. Now, I can easily see how to balance based on sex or any > single characteristic. But how to balance across all three at the same time? > My head starts spinning when I think about the issues that we won't > necessarily have equal distribution across any of the characteristics. > > I don't need the code, just the concept. I am having a hard time conceiving > on how to do this if the people were standing in front of me, much less by > code. Any ideas? > > > Seth Tepfer 770-784-8487 [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Director of Administrative Computing, Oxford College > Proud Pappa (again): Zyle Caspian, born Thursday, April 17, 2:38 pm. 8 lbs, > 19.5 inches. Baby Pix at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ > > This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of > the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged > information. If the reader of this message is not the intended > recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution > or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly > prohibited. > > If you have received this message in error, please contact > the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the > original message (including attachments). > > > ------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from this list, manage your profile @ > http://www.acfug.org?falogin.edituserform > > For more info, see http://www.acfug.org/mailinglists > Archive @ http://www.mail-archive.com/discussion%40acfug.org/ > List hosted by http://www.fusionlink.com > ------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list, manage your profile @ http://www.acfug.org?fa=login.edituserform For more info, see http://www.acfug.org/mailinglists Archive @ http://www.mail-archive.com/discussion%40acfug.org/ List hosted by http://www.fusionlink.com -------------------------------------------------------------
