all possible combinations

[rbt]

Thanks to all who were helpful... some of you guys are too harsh and
cynical. Here's what I came up with. I believe it's a proper
combination, but I'm sure someone will point out that I'm wrong ;)

groups = [list('abc'),list('abc'),list('abc'),list('abc')]

already = []

while 1:

    LIST = []

    for g in groups:
        sample = random.sample(g, 1)
        LIST.append(sample[0])

    STRING = ''.join(LIST)
    if STRING not in already:
        print STRING
        already.append(STRING)
    if len(already) == 81:
        break

On Thu, 2005-07-14 at 23:18 +1000, John Machin wrote:
> Steven D'Aprano wrote:
> > On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 08:49:05 +1000, John Machin wrote:
> > 
> > 
> >>"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
> >>
> >>Both of you please google("define: combination")
> > 
> > 
> > Combination: "a coordinated sequence of chess moves".
> > 
> > "An option position that is effected by either a purchase of two long
> > positions or two short positions. The investor purchases a call and a put
> > (or sells a call and a put) with different expiration dates and/or
> > different strike prices."
> > 
> > Or perhaps "in Scheme, a function call, consisting of a function name and
> > arguments written within parentheses."
> > 
> > Yes, mathematically the definition of combination includes that order does
> > not matter. But that certainly isn't the case in common English. Now,
> > John, given the tone of the posts you are complaining about,
> 
> Wrong -- no complaint. Another quote: "It's a joke, Joyce!"
> 
> > do you think
> > I was using combination in the precise mathematical sense, or the common
> > English sense?
> 
> As in "Please don't get your combinations in a twist?"?
> 
> > 
> > (Hint: the very first definition Google finds is "a collection of things
> > that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities ".
> > Not a word there about order mattering or not.)
>