How to generate random numbers different from already generated ones?

Question

I want to generate 18000 numbers (integers) between 36499 and 130064, but two times, and insert them in two different lists. I want the numbers in each list to be unique, that is, different from each other in the list, and different from every number in the other list. So I've decided to use the random.sample method and so far i have

import random
random.seed(9000)

a = random.sample(range(36499, 130064), 18000)

All good so far. However if I do the same for, say, a list called "b", some numbers will exist in list "a" as well. Is this any way you guys can think of to generate 18000 numbers different from the ones already generated? Thanks

Kevin Wang · Accepted Answer · 2020-01-10 23:19:19Z

3

you could generate 36000 random numbers instead of 18000, and then produce list A and list B from that.

answered Jan 10, 2020 at 23:19

Kevin Wang

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3 Comments

thenac Over a year ago

oh my god, you are right. Thanks a lot i feel bad for not thinking this :P

JohanC Over a year ago

c = random.sample(range(36499, 130064), 36000); a = c[:18000]; b = c[18000:] ?

Kelly Bundy Over a year ago

@JohanC I'd say too ordinary, a, b = c[::2], c[1::2] is slightly more interesting.

JohanC · Accepted Answer · 2020-01-10 23:25:43Z

1

You could work with sets:

import random

random.seed(9000)
numbers = range(36499, 130064)
a = random.sample(numbers, 18000)
b = random.sample(set(numbers) - set(a), 18000)

answered Jan 10, 2020 at 23:25

JohanC

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2 Comments

thenac Over a year ago

Thanks a lot for the answer! I know what set() but to be honest its the first time i encounter something of the form set(a) - set(b). I'll have to run some tests to see what it does.

thenac Over a year ago

Great! Thanks a lot :)

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