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

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import random

"""
    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
"""

def generate_random_sum(n: int, k: int) -> list:
    if k <= 0 or n < k:
        # k positive integers must sum to n → minimum sum is k
        raise ValueError("Invalid n or k")

    # Generate (k - 1) random cut points in [1, n - 1]
    cuts = [random.randint(1, n - 1) for _ in range(k - 1)]

    # Sort the cut points so we can compute segment lengths
    cuts = sorted(cuts)

    result = []
    prev = 0

    # Convert cut points into segment lengths
    for c in cuts:
        result.append(c - prev)
        prev = c

    # Last segment: from last cut to n
    result.append(n - prev)

    return result


def main():
    n = 50   # total sum
    k = 7    # number of random parts

    parts = generate_random_sum(n, k)

    print(f"Random parts that sum to {n}:")
    print(*parts)

    # Verify sum
    print("Sum =", sum(parts))


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()



"""
run:

Random parts that sum to 50:
16 3 7 4 10 8 2
Sum = 50

"""

 



answered 3 days ago by avibootz
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