in reply to Manipulating Arrays

webchalkboard,
Ok, you speak of combinations and of permutations. They are not the same thing. In a nutshell, a combination doesn't not consider a group of elements different if the only thing that changes is the position while a permutation does. So do you want combinations or permutations?

Additionally, it looks like you want both a fixed size (you mention 2 word phrases and then 4 word long phrases) and a fixed total (50). Do you have unspoken requirements - if so what are they.

I have code (and so do other monks and CPAN) that does combinations, permutations, fixed size groupings, etc. I need more information before I can recommend one of them.

Cheers - L~R

Update: I did have a double negative pointed out by AM below. The correction is to strike one of them as order doesn't matter in combinations. The attempted correction by AM is incorrect.

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Re^2: Manipulating Arrays
by Anonymous Monk on Aug 11, 2005 at 15:45 UTC
    a combination doesn't not consider a group of elements different if the only thing that changes is the position while a permutation does

    Confusion alert! Confusion alert! That sentence is extremely hard to understand, even though I know what you're trying to say. I think one of the most egregious problems is the double negative, doesn't not. For the sake of others, I'll try to translate:

    The ordering of the elements matters for a combination, but doesn't matter for a permutation.
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