On Dec 15, 2008, at 6:41 PM, Einar Magnů¸ Boson wrote:

>
> On 15.12.2008, at 23:07 , Matthew Moss wrote:
>
>>
>> On Dec 15, 2008, at 3:44 PM, steven shingler wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 3:31 PM, Matthew Moss <matt / moss.name>  
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Dec 15, 2008, at 9:19 AM, peter / rubyrailways.com 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 - - 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.
>>
>>
>
>
> 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?

By buying more candles.  :D

But seriously, it will depend on the input. If I had to choose between  hose options, I'd prefer to give individuals a variety of fragrances  avoid duplication more than enforcing uniqueness).