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comb 3 5 ;# ==> {0 1 2} {0 1 3} {0 1 4} {0 2 3} {0 2 4} {0 3 4} {1 2 3} {1 2 4} {1 3 4} {2 3 4}</lang>
comb 3 5 ;# ==> {0 1 2} {0 1 3} {0 1 4} {0 2 3} {0 2 4} {0 3 4} {1 2 3} {1 2 4} {1 3 4} {2 3 4}</lang>

=={{header|TXR}}==

TXR has repeating and non-repeating permutation and combination functions that produce lazy lists. They are generic over lists, strings and vectors. In addition, the combinations function also works over hashes.

Combinations and permutations are produced in lexicographic order (except in the case of hashes).

<lang txr>@(do
(defun comb-n-m (n m)
(comb (range* 0 n) m))

(print (comb-n-m 5 3))

(put-line ""))</lang>

Run:

<pre>$ txr combinations.txr
((0 1 2) (0 1 3) (0 1 4) (0 2 3) (0 2 4) (0 3 4) (1 2 4) (1 3 4) (2 3 4))</pre>


=={{header|Ursala}}==
=={{header|Ursala}}==

Revision as of 10:42, 11 February 2014

Task
Combinations
You are encouraged to solve this task according to the task description, using any language you may know.

Given non-negative integers m and n, generate all size m combinations of the integers from 0 to n-1 in sorted order (each combination is sorted and the entire table is sorted).

For example, 3 comb 5 is

0 1 2
0 1 3
0 1 4
0 2 3
0 2 4
0 3 4
1 2 3
1 2 4
1 3 4
2 3 4

If it is more "natural" in your language to start counting from 1 instead of 0 the combinations can be of the integers from 1 to n.

See Also:

The number of samples of size k from n objects.

With   combinations and permutations   generation tasks.

Order Unimportant Order Important
Without replacement
Task: Combinations Task: Permutations
With replacement
Task: Combinations with repetitions Task: Permutations with repetitions

Ada

<lang ada>with Ada.Text_IO; use Ada.Text_IO;

procedure Test_Combinations is

  generic
     type Integers is range <>;
  package Combinations is
     type Combination is array (Positive range <>) of Integers;
     procedure First (X : in out Combination);
     procedure Next (X : in out Combination); 
     procedure Put (X : Combination);
  end Combinations;
  
  package body Combinations is
     procedure First (X : in out Combination) is
     begin
        X (1) := Integers'First;
        for I in 2..X'Last loop
           X (I) := X (I - 1) + 1;
        end loop;
     end First;
     procedure Next (X : in out Combination) is
     begin
        for I in reverse X'Range loop
           if X (I) < Integers'Val (Integers'Pos (Integers'Last) - X'Last + I) then
              X (I) := X (I) + 1;
              for J in I + 1..X'Last loop
                 X (J) := X (J - 1) + 1;
              end loop;
              return;
           end if;
        end loop;
        raise Constraint_Error;
     end Next;
     procedure Put (X : Combination) is
     begin
        for I in X'Range loop
           Put (Integers'Image (X (I)));
        end loop;
     end Put;
  end Combinations;
  
  type Five is range 0..4;
  package Fives is new Combinations (Five);
  use Fives;
  X : Combination (1..3);

begin

  First (X);
  loop
     Put (X); New_Line;
     Next (X);
  end loop;

exception

  when Constraint_Error =>
     null;

end Test_Combinations;</lang> The solution is generic the formal parameter is the integer type to make combinations of. The type range determines n. In the example it is <lang ada>type Five is range 0..4;</lang> The parameter m is the object's constraint. When n < m the procedure First (selects the first combination) will propagate Constraint_Error. The procedure Next selects the next combination. Constraint_Error is propagated when it is the last one. Sample output:

 0 1 2
 0 1 3
 0 1 4
 0 2 3
 0 2 4
 0 3 4
 1 2 3
 1 2 4
 1 3 4
 2 3 4

ALGOL 68

Translation of: Python
Works with: ALGOL 68 version Revision 1 - one minor extension to language used - PRAGMA READ, similar to C's #include directive.
Works with: ALGOL 68G version Any - tested with release algol68g-2.6.

File: prelude_combinations.a68<lang algol68># -*- coding: utf-8 -*- #

COMMENT REQUIRED BY "prelude_combinations_generative.a68"

 MODE COMBDATA = ~;

PROVIDES:

  1. COMBDATA*=~* #
  2. comb*=~ list* #

END COMMENT

MODE COMBDATALIST = REF[]COMBDATA; MODE COMBDATALISTYIELD = PROC(COMBDATALIST)VOID;

PROC comb gen combinations = (INT m, COMBDATALIST list, COMBDATALISTYIELD yield)VOID:(

 CASE m IN
 # case 1: transpose list #
   FOR i TO UPB list DO yield(list[i]) OD
 OUT
   [m + LWB list - 1]COMBDATA out;
   INT index out := 1;
   FOR i TO UPB list DO
     COMBDATA first = list[i];
   # FOR COMBDATALIST sub recombination IN # comb gen combinations(m - 1, list[i+1:] #) DO (#,
   ##   (COMBDATALIST sub recombination)VOID:(
       out[LWB list   ] := first;
       out[LWB list+1:] := sub recombination;
       yield(out)
   # OD #))
   OD
 ESAC

);

SKIP</lang>File: test_combinations.a68<lang algol68>#!/usr/bin/a68g --script #

  1. -*- coding: utf-8 -*- #

CO REQUIRED BY "prelude_combinations.a68" CO

 MODE COMBDATA = INT;
  1. PROVIDES:#
  2. COMBDATA~=INT~ #
  3. comb ~=int list ~#

PR READ "prelude_combinations.a68" PR;

FORMAT data fmt = $g(0)$;

main:(

 INT m = 3;
 FORMAT list fmt = $"("n(m-1)(f(data fmt)",")f(data fmt)")"$;
 FLEX[0]COMBDATA test data list := (1,2,3,4,5);
  1. FOR COMBDATALIST recombination data IN # comb gen combinations(m, test data list #) DO (#,
    1. (COMBDATALIST recombination)VOID:(
   printf ((list fmt, recombination, $l$))
  1. OD # ))

) </lang>Output:

(1,2,3)
(1,2,4)
(1,2,5)
(1,3,4)
(1,3,5)
(1,4,5)
(2,3,4)
(2,3,5)
(2,4,5)
(3,4,5)

AppleScript

<lang AppleScript>on comb(n, k) set c to {} repeat with i from 1 to k set end of c to i's contents end repeat set r to {c's contents} repeat while my next_comb(c, k, n) set end of r to c's contents end repeat return r end comb

on next_comb(c, k, n) set i to k set c's item i to (c's item i) + 1 repeat while (i > 1 and c's item i ≥ n - k + 1 + i) set i to i - 1 set c's item i to (c's item i) + 1 end repeat if (c's item 1 > n - k + 1) then return false repeat with i from i + 1 to k set c's item i to (c's item (i - 1)) + 1 end repeat return true end next_comb

return comb(5, 3)</lang>Output:<lang AppleScript>{{1, 2, 3}, {1, 2, 4}, {1, 2, 5}, {1, 3, 4}, {1, 3, 5}, {1, 4, 5}, {2, 3, 4}, {2, 3, 5}, {2, 4, 5}, {3, 4, 5}}</lang>


AutoHotkey

contributed by Laszlo on the ahk forum <lang AutoHotkey>MsgBox % Comb(1,1) MsgBox % Comb(3,3) MsgBox % Comb(3,2) MsgBox % Comb(2,3) MsgBox % Comb(5,3)

Comb(n,t) { ; Generate all n choose t combinations of 1..n, lexicographically

  IfLess n,%t%, Return
  Loop %t%
     c%A_Index% := A_Index
  i := t+1, c%i% := n+1
  Loop {
     Loop %t%
        i := t+1-A_Index, c .= c%i% " "
     c .= "`n"     ; combinations in new lines
     j := 1, i := 2
     Loop
        If (c%j%+1 = c%i%)
            c%j% := j, ++j, ++i
        Else Break
     If (j > t)
        Return c
     c%j% += 1
  }

}</lang>

AWK

<lang awk>BEGIN { ## Default values for r and n (Choose 3 from pool of 5). Can ## alternatively be set on the command line:- ## awk -v r=<number of items being chosen> -v n=<how many to choose from> -f <scriptname> if (length(r) == 0) r = 3 if (length(n) == 0) n = 5

for (i=1; i <= r; i++) { ## First combination of items: A[i] = i if (i < r ) printf i OFS else print i}

## While 1st item is less than its maximum permitted value... while (A[1] < n - r + 1) { ## loop backwards through all items in the previous ## combination of items until an item is found that is ## less than its maximum permitted value: for (i = r; i >= 1; i--) { ## If the equivalently positioned item in the ## previous combination of items is less than its ## maximum permitted value... if (A[i] < n - r + i) { ## increment the current item by 1: A[i]++ ## Save the current position-index for use ## outside this "for" loop: p = i break}} ## Put consecutive numbers in the remainder of the array, ## counting up from position-index p. for (i = p + 1; i <= r; i++) A[i] = A[i - 1] + 1

## Print the current combination of items: for (i=1; i <= r; i++) { if (i < r) printf A[i] OFS else print A[i]}} exit}</lang>

Usage:

awk -v r=3 -v n=5 -f combn.awk

Output:

1 2 3
1 2 4
1 2 5
1 3 4
1 3 5
1 4 5
2 3 4
2 3 5
2 4 5
3 4 5

BBC BASIC

<lang bbcbasic> INSTALL @lib$+"SORTLIB"

     sort% = FN_sortinit(0,0)
     
     M% = 3
     N% = 5
     
     C% = FNfact(N%)/(FNfact(M%)*FNfact(N%-M%))
     DIM s$(C%)
     PROCcomb(M%, N%, s$())
     
     CALL sort%, s$(0)
     FOR I% = 0 TO C%-1
       PRINT s$(I%)
     NEXT
     END
     
     DEF PROCcomb(C%, N%, s$())
     LOCAL I%, U%
     FOR U% = 0 TO 2^N%-1
       IF FNbits(U%) = C% THEN
         s$(I%) = FNlist(U%)
         I% += 1
       ENDIF
     NEXT
     ENDPROC
     
     DEF FNbits(U%)
     LOCAL N%
     WHILE U%
       N% += 1
       U% = U% AND (U%-1)
     ENDWHILE
     = N%
     
     DEF FNlist(U%)
     LOCAL N%, s$
     WHILE U%
       IF U% AND 1 s$ += STR$(N%) + " "
       N% += 1
       U% = U% >> 1
     ENDWHILE
     = s$
     
     DEF FNfact(N%)
     IF N%<=1 THEN = 1 ELSE = N%*FNfact(N%-1)

</lang>

Bracmat

The program first constructs a pattern with m variables and an expression that evaluates m variables into a combination. Then the program constructs a list of the integers 0 ... n-1. The real work is done in the expression !list:!pat. When a combination is found, it is added to the list of combinations. Then we force the program to backtrack and find the next combination by evaluating the always failing ~. When all combinations are found, the pattern fails and we are in the rhs of the last | operator.

<lang bracmat>(comb=

 bvar combination combinations list m n pat pvar var

. !arg:(?m.?n)

   & ( pat
     =   ?
       & !combinations (.!combination):?combinations
       & ~
     )
   & :?list:?combination:?combinations
   &   whl
     ' ( !m+-1:~<0:?m
       & chu$(utf$a+!m):?var
       & glf$('(%@?.$var)):(=?pvar)
       & '(? ()$pvar ()$pat):(=?pat)
       & glf$('(!.$var)):(=?bvar)
       & (   '$combination:(=)
           & '$bvar:(=?combination)
         | '($bvar ()$combination):(=?combination)
         )
       )
   &   whl
     ' (!n+-1:~<0:?n&!n !list:?list)
   & !list:!pat
 | !combinations);</lang>
   
comb$(3.5)  
(.0 1 2)
(.0 1 3)
(.0 1 4)
(.0 2 3)
(.0 2 4)
(.0 3 4)
(.1 2 3)
(.1 2 4)
(.1 3 4)
(.2 3 4)

C

<lang C>#include <stdio.h>

/* Type marker stick: using bits to indicate what's chosen. The stick can't

* handle more than 32 items, but the idea is there; at worst, use array instead */

typedef unsigned long marker; marker one = 1;

void comb(int pool, int need, marker chosen, int at) { if (pool < need + at) return; /* not enough bits left */

if (!need) { /* got all we needed; print the thing. if other actions are * desired, we could have passed in a callback function. */ for (at = 0; at < pool; at++) if (chosen & (one << at)) printf("%d ", at); printf("\n"); return; } /* if we choose the current item, "or" (|) the bit to mark it so. */ comb(pool, need - 1, chosen | (one << at), at + 1); comb(pool, need, chosen, at + 1); /* or don't choose it, go to next */ }

int main() { comb(5, 3, 0, 0); return 0; }</lang>

Lexicographic ordered generation

Without recursions, generate all combinations in sequence. Basic logic: put n items in the first n of m slots; each step, if right most slot can be moved one slot further right, do so; otherwise find right most item that can be moved, move it one step and put all items already to its right next to it. <lang c>#include <stdio.h>

void comb(int m, int n, unsigned char *c) { int i; for (i = 0; i < n; i++) c[i] = n - i;

while (1) { for (i = n; i--;) printf("%d%c", c[i], i ? ' ': '\n');

/* this check is not strictly necessary, but if m is not close to n, it makes the whole thing quite a bit faster */ if (c[i]++ < m) continue;

for (i = 0; c[i] >= m - i;) if (++i >= n) return; for (c[i]++; i; i--) c[i-1] = c[i] + 1; } }

int main() { unsigned char buf[100]; comb(5, 3, buf); return 0; }</lang>

C++

<lang cpp>#include <algorithm>

  1. include <iostream>
  2. include <string>

void comb(int N, int K) {

   std::string bitmask(K, 1); // K leading 1's
   bitmask.resize(N, 0); // N-K trailing 0's
   // print integers and permute bitmask
   do {
       for (int i = 0; i < N; ++i) // [0..N-1] integers
       {
           if (bitmask[i]) std::cout << " " << i;
       }
       std::cout << std::endl;
   } while (std::prev_permutation(bitmask.begin(), bitmask.end()));

}

int main() {

   comb(5, 3);

}</lang> Output:

 0 1 2
 0 1 3
 0 1 4
 0 2 3
 0 2 4
 0 3 4
 1 2 3
 1 2 4
 1 3 4
 2 3 4

C#

<lang csharp>using System; using System.Collections.Generic;

public class Program {

   public static IEnumerable<int[]> Combinations(int m, int n)
   {
           int[] result = new int[m];
           Stack<int> stack = new Stack<int>();
           stack.Push(0);
           while (stack.Count > 0) {
               int index = stack.Count - 1;
               int value = stack.Pop();
               while (value < n) {
                   result[index++] = value++;
                   stack.Push(value);
                   if (index == m) {
                       yield return result;
                       break;
                   }
               }
           }
   }
   static void Main()
   {
       foreach (int[] c in Combinations(3, 5))
       {
           for (int i = 0; i < c.Length; i++)
           {
               Console.Write(c[i] + " ");
           }
           Console.WriteLine();
       }
   }

}</lang>

Here is another implementation that uses recursion, intead of an explicit stack:

<lang csharp> using System; using System.Collections.Generic;

public class Program {

 public static IEnumerable<int[]> FindCombosRec(int[] buffer, int done, int begin, int end)
 {
   for (int i = begin; i < end; i++)
   {
     buffer[done] = i;
     if (done == buffer.Length - 1)
       yield return buffer;
     else
       foreach (int[] child in FindCombosRec(buffer, done+1, i+1, end))
         yield return child;
   }
 }
 public static IEnumerable<int[]> FindCombinations(int m, int n)
 {
   return FindCombosRec(new int[m], 0, 0, n);
 }
 static void Main()
 {
   foreach (int[] c in FindCombinations(3, 5))
   {
     for (int i = 0; i < c.Length; i++)
     {
       Console.Write(c[i] + " ");
     }
     Console.WriteLine();
   }
 }

} </lang>

Clojure

<lang clojure>(defn combinations

 "If m=1, generate a nested list of numbers [0,n)
  If m>1, for each x in [0,n), and for each list in the recursion on [x+1,n), cons the two"
 [m n]
 (letfn [(comb-aux

[m start] (if (= 1 m) (for [x (range start n)] (list x)) (for [x (range start n) xs (comb-aux (dec m) (inc x))] (cons x xs))))]

   (comb-aux m 0)))

(defn print-combinations

 [m n]
 (doseq [line (combinations m n)]
   (doseq [n line]
     (printf "%s " n))
   (printf "%n")))</lang>

CoffeeScript

Basic backtracking solution. <lang coffeescript> combinations = (n, p) ->

 return [ [] ] if p == 0
 i = 0
 combos = []
 combo = []
 while combo.length < p
   if i < n
     combo.push i
     i += 1
   else
     break if combo.length == 0
     i = combo.pop() + 1
     
   if combo.length == p
     combos.push clone combo
     i = combo.pop() + 1
 combos

clone = (arr) -> (n for n in arr)

N = 5 for i in [0..N]

 console.log "------ #{N} #{i}"
 for combo in combinations N, i
   console.log combo
   

</lang>

output

<lang>> coffee combo.coffee


5 0

[]


5 1

[ 0 ] [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ]


5 2

[ 0, 1 ] [ 0, 2 ] [ 0, 3 ] [ 0, 4 ] [ 1, 2 ] [ 1, 3 ] [ 1, 4 ] [ 2, 3 ] [ 2, 4 ] [ 3, 4 ]


5 3

[ 0, 1, 2 ] [ 0, 1, 3 ] [ 0, 1, 4 ] [ 0, 2, 3 ] [ 0, 2, 4 ] [ 0, 3, 4 ] [ 1, 2, 3 ] [ 1, 2, 4 ] [ 1, 3, 4 ] [ 2, 3, 4 ]


5 4

[ 0, 1, 2, 3 ] [ 0, 1, 2, 4 ] [ 0, 1, 3, 4 ] [ 0, 2, 3, 4 ] [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ]


5 5

[ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 ]

</lang>


Common Lisp

<lang lisp>(defun map-combinations (m n fn)

 "Call fn with each m combination of the integers from 0 to n-1 as a list. The list may be destroyed after fn returns."
 (let ((combination (make-list m)))
   (labels ((up-from (low)
              (let ((start (1- low)))
                (lambda () (incf start))))
            (mc (curr left needed comb-tail)
              (cond
               ((zerop needed)
                (funcall fn combination))
               ((= left needed)
                (map-into comb-tail (up-from curr))
                (funcall fn combination))
               (t
                (setf (first comb-tail) curr)
                (mc (1+ curr) (1- left) (1- needed) (rest comb-tail))
                (mc (1+ curr) (1- left) needed comb)))))
     (mc 0 n m combination))))</lang>

Example use

> (map-combinations 3 5 'print)

(0 1 2) 
(0 1 3) 
(0 1 4) 
(0 2 3) 
(0 2 4) 
(0 3 4) 
(1 2 3) 
(1 2 4) 
(1 3 4) 
(2 3 4) 
(2 3 4)

Recursive method

<lang lisp>(defun comb (m list fn)

 (labels ((comb1 (l c m)

(when (>= (length l) m) (if (zerop m) (return-from comb1 (funcall fn c))) (comb1 (cdr l) c m) (comb1 (cdr l) (cons (first l) c) (1- m)))))

   (comb1 list nil m)))

(comb 3 '(0 1 2 3 4 5) #'print)</lang>

Alternate, iterative method

<lang lisp>(defun next-combination (n a)

   (let ((k (length a)) m)
   (loop for i from 1 do
       (when (> i k) (return nil))
       (when (< (aref a (- k i)) (- n i))
           (setf m (aref a (- k i)))
           (loop for j from i downto 1 do
               (incf m)
               (setf (aref a (- k j)) m))
           (return t)))))

(defun all-combinations (n k)

   (if (or (< k 0) (< n k)) '()
       (let ((a (make-array k)))
           (loop for i below k do (setf (aref a i) i))
           (loop collect (coerce a 'list) while (next-combination n a)))))
           

(defun map-combinations (n k fun)

   (if (and (>= k 0) (>= n k))
       (let ((a (make-array k)))
           (loop for i below k do (setf (aref a i) i))
           (loop do (funcall fun (coerce a 'list)) while (next-combination n a)))))
all-combinations returns a list of lists

> (all-combinations 4 3) ((0 1 2) (0 1 3) (0 2 3) (1 2 3))

map-combinations applies a function to each combination

> (map-combinations 6 4 #'print) (0 1 2 3) (0 1 2 4) (0 1 2 5) (0 1 3 4) (0 1 3 5) (0 1 4 5) (0 2 3 4) (0 2 3 5) (0 2 4 5) (0 3 4 5) (1 2 3 4) (1 2 3 5) (1 2 4 5) (1 3 4 5) (2 3 4 5)</lang>

D

Slow Recursive Version

Translation of: Python

<lang d>T[][] comb(T)(in T[] arr, in int k) pure nothrow {

   if (k == 0) return [[]];
   typeof(return) result;
   foreach (immutable i, immutable x; arr)
       foreach (suffix; arr[i + 1 .. $].comb(k - 1))
           result ~= x ~ suffix;
   return result;

}

void main() {

   import std.stdio;
   [0, 1, 2, 3].comb(2).writeln;

}</lang>

Output:
[[0, 1], [0, 2], [0, 3], [1, 2], [1, 3], [2, 3]]

More Functional Recursive Version

Translation of: Haskell

Same output. <lang d>import std.stdio, std.algorithm, std.range;

T[][] comb(T)(in T[] s, in int m) /*pure*/ nothrow {

 if (!m) return [[]];
 if (s.empty) return [];
 return s[1 .. $].comb(m - 1).map!(x => s[0] ~ x).array ~
        s[1 .. $].comb(m);

}

void main() {

   4.iota.array.comb(2).writeln;

}</lang>

Fast lazy version

<lang d>module combinations3;

ulong binomial(long n, long k) pure nothrow in {

   assert(n > 0, "binomial: n must be > 0.");

} body {

   if (k < 0 || k > n)
       return 0;
   if (k > (n / 2))
       k = n - k;
   ulong result = 1;
   foreach (ulong d; 1 .. k + 1) {
       result *= n;
       n--;
       result /= d;
   }
   return result;

}


struct Combinations(T, bool copy=true) {

   // Algorithm by Knuth, Pre-fascicle 3A, draft of
   // section 7.2.1.3: "Generating all partitions".
   T[] items;
   int k;
   size_t len = -1; // computed lazily
   this(in T[] items, in int k)
   in {
       assert(items.length, "combinations: items can't be empty.");
   } body {
       this.items = items.dup;
       this.k = k;
   }
   @property size_t length() /*logic_const*/ {
       if (len == -1) // set cache
           len = cast(size_t)binomial(items.length, k);
       return len;
   }
   int opApply(int delegate(ref T[]) dg) {
       if (k == items.length)
           return dg(items);         // yield items
       auto outarr = new T[k];
       if (k == 0)
           return dg(outarr);        // yield []
       if (k < 0 || k > items.length)
           return 0;                 // yield nothing
       int result, x;
       immutable n = items.length;
       auto c = new uint[k + 3]; // c[0] isn'k used
       foreach (j; 1 .. k + 1)
           c[j] = j - 1;
       c[k + 1] = n;
       c[k + 2] = 0;
       int j = k;
       while (true) {
           // The following lines equal to:
           //int pos;
           //foreach (i; 1 .. k +1)
           //    outarr[pos++] = items[c[i]];
           auto outarr_ptr = outarr.ptr;
           auto c_ptr = &(c[1]);
           auto c_ptrkp1 = &(c[k + 1]);
           while (c_ptr != c_ptrkp1)
               *outarr_ptr++ = items[*c_ptr++];


           static if (copy) {
               auto outarr2 = outarr.dup;
               result = dg(outarr2); // yield outarr2
           } else {
               result = dg(outarr); // yield outarr
           }
           if (j > 0) {
               x = j;
               c[j] = x;
               j--;
               continue;
           }
           if ((c[1] + 1) < c[2]) {
               c[1]++;
               continue;
           } else
               j = 2;
           while (true) {
               c[j - 1] = j - 2;
               x = c[j] + 1;
               if (x == c[j + 1])
                   j++;
               else
                   break;
           }
           if (j > k)
               return result; // End
           c[j] = x;
           j--;
       }
   }

}

Combinations!(T,copy) combinations(bool copy=true, T)

                                 (in T[] items, in int k)

in {

   assert(items.length, "combinations: items can't be empty.");

} body {

   return Combinations!(T, copy)(items, k);

}


// compile with -version=combinations3_main to run main version(combinations3_main) void main() {

   import std.stdio, std.array;
   writeln(array(combinations([1, 2, 3, 4], 2)));

}</lang>

Lazy Lexicographical Combinations

Includes an algorithm to find mth Lexicographical Element of a Combination. <lang d>module combinations4; import std.stdio, std.algorithm, std.conv;

ulong choose(int n, int k) nothrow in {

   assert(n >= 0 && k >= 0, "choose: no negative input.");

} body {

   static ulong[][] cache;
   if (n < k)
       return 0;
   else if (n == k)
       return 1;
   while (n >= cache.length)
       cache ~= [1UL]; // = choose(m, 0);
   auto kmax  = min(k, n - k);
   while(kmax >= cache[n].length) {
       immutable h = cache[n].length;
       cache[n] ~= choose(n - 1, h - 1) + choose(n - 1, h);
   }
   return cache[n][kmax];

}

int largestV(in int p, in int q, in long r) nothrow in {

   assert(p > 0 && q >= 0 && r >= 0, "largestV: no negative input.");

} body {

   auto v = p - 1;
   while (choose(v, q) > r)
       v--;
   return v;

}

struct Comb {

   immutable int n, m;
   @property size_t length() const /*nothrow*/ {
       return to!size_t(choose(n, m));
   }
   int[] opIndex(in size_t idx) const {
       if (m < 0 || n < 0)
           return [];
       if (idx >= length)
           throw new Exception("Out of bound");
       ulong x = choose(n, m) - 1 - idx;
       int a = n, b = m;
       auto res = new int[m];
       foreach (i; 0 .. m) {
           a = largestV(a, b, x);
           x = x - choose(a, b);
           b = b - 1;
           res[i] = n - 1 - a;
       }
       return res;
   }
   int opApply(int delegate(ref int[]) dg) const {
       int[] yield;
       foreach (i; 0 .. length) {
           yield = this[i];
           if (dg(yield))
               break;
       }
       return 0;
   }
   static auto On(T)(in T[] arr, in int m) {
       auto comb = Comb(arr.length, m);
       return new class {
           @property size_t length() const /*nothrow*/ {
               return comb.length;
           }
           int opApply(int delegate(ref T[]) dg) const {
               auto yield = new T[m];
               foreach (c; comb) {
                   foreach (idx; 0 .. m)
                       yield[idx] = arr[c[idx]];
                   if (dg(yield))
                       break;
               }
               return 0;
           }
       };
   }

}


version(combinations4_main)

   void main() {
       foreach (c; Comb.On([1, 2, 3], 2))
           writeln(c);
   }</lang>

E

<lang e>def combinations(m, range) {

 return if (m <=> 0) { [[]] } else {
   def combGenerator {
     to iterate(f) {
       for i in range {
         for suffix in combinations(m.previous(), range & (int > i)) {
           f(null, [i] + suffix)
         }
       }
     }
   }
 }

}</lang>

? for x in combinations(3, 0..4) { println(x) }

Egison

<lang egison> (define $comb

 (lambda [$n $xs]
   (match-all xs (list integer)
     [(loop $i [1 ,n] <join _ <cons $a_i ...>> _) a])))

(test (comb 3 (between 0 4))) </lang> Output: <lang egison> {[|0 1 2|] [|0 1 3|] [|0 2 3|] [|1 2 3|] [|0 1 4|] [|0 2 4|] [|0 3 4|] [|1 2 4|] [|1 3 4|] [|2 3 4|]} </lang>

Erlang

<lang erlang> -module(comb). -compile(export_all).

comb(0,_) ->

   [[]];

comb(_,[]) ->

   [];

comb(N,[H|T]) ->

   [[H|L] || L <- comb(N-1,T)]++comb(N,T).

</lang>

Elena

<lang elena>#define system.

  1. define system'routines.
  2. define extensions.
  3. define extensions'routines.
  1. symbol M = 3.
  2. symbol N = 5.

// --- Numbers ---

  1. symbol numbers = (:anN)

[

   arrayControl new &length:anN &each: anIndex [ Integer new:(anIndex + 1) ]

].

// --- Program ---

  1. symbol program =

[

   #var aNumbers := numbers:N.    
   controlEx for:(Combinator new:(arrayControl new &length:M &each: i [ aNumbers ])) &do: aRow
   [
       consoleEx writeLine:aRow.
   ].

].</lang>

Factor

<lang factor>USING: math.combinatorics prettyprint ;

5 iota 3 all-combinations .</lang>

{
    { 0 1 2 }
    { 0 1 3 }
    { 0 1 4 }
    { 0 2 3 }
    { 0 2 4 }
    { 0 3 4 }
    { 1 2 3 }
    { 1 2 4 }
    { 1 3 4 }
    { 2 3 4 }
}

This works with any kind of sequence: <lang factor>{ "a" "b" "c" } 2 all-combinations .</lang>

{ { "a" "b" } { "a" "c" } { "b" "c" } }

Fortran

<lang fortran>program Combinations

 use iso_fortran_env
 implicit none
 type comb_result
    integer, dimension(:), allocatable :: combs
 end type comb_result
 type(comb_result), dimension(:), pointer :: r
 integer :: i, j
 call comb(5, 3, r)
 do i = 0, choose(5, 3) - 1
    do j = 2, 0, -1
       write(*, "(I4, ' ')", advance="no") r(i)%combs(j)
    end do
    deallocate(r(i)%combs)
    write(*,*) ""
 end do
 deallocate(r)

contains

 function choose(n, k, err)
   integer :: choose
   integer, intent(in) :: n, k
   integer, optional, intent(out) :: err
   integer :: imax, i, imin, ie
   ie = 0
   if ( (n < 0 ) .or. (k < 0 ) ) then
      write(ERROR_UNIT, *) "negative in choose"
      choose = 0
      ie = 1
   else
      if ( n < k ) then
         choose = 0
      else if ( n == k ) then
         choose = 1
      else
         imax = max(k, n-k)
         imin = min(k, n-k)
         choose = 1
         do i = imax+1, n
            choose = choose * i
         end do
         do i = 2, imin
            choose = choose / i
         end do
      end if
   end if
   if ( present(err) ) err = ie
 end function choose
 subroutine comb(n, k, co)
   integer, intent(in) :: n, k
   type(comb_result), dimension(:), pointer, intent(out) :: co
   integer :: i, j, s, ix, kx, hm, t
   integer :: err
  
   hm = choose(n, k, err)
   if ( err /= 0 ) then
      nullify(co)
      return
   end if
   allocate(co(0:hm-1))
   do i = 0, hm-1
      allocate(co(i)%combs(0:k-1))
   end do
   do i = 0, hm-1
      ix = i; kx = k
      do s = 0, n-1
         if ( kx == 0 ) exit
         t = choose(n-(s+1), kx-1)
         if ( ix < t ) then
            co(i)%combs(kx-1) = s
            kx = kx - 1
         else
            ix = ix - t
         end if
      end do
   end do
 end subroutine comb

end program Combinations</lang> Alternatively: <lang fortran>program combinations

 implicit none
 integer, parameter :: m_max = 3
 integer, parameter :: n_max = 5
 integer, dimension (m_max) :: comb
 character (*), parameter :: fmt = '(i0' // repeat (', 1x, i0', m_max - 1) // ')'
 call gen (1)

contains

 recursive subroutine gen (m)
   implicit none
   integer, intent (in) :: m
   integer :: n
   if (m > m_max) then
     write (*, fmt) comb
   else
     do n = 1, n_max
       if ((m == 1) .or. (n > comb (m - 1))) then
         comb (m) = n
         call gen (m + 1)
       end if
     end do
   end if
 end subroutine gen

end program combinations</lang> Output: <lang>1 2 3 1 2 4 1 2 5 1 3 4 1 3 5 1 4 5 2 3 4 2 3 5 2 4 5 3 4 5</lang>

GAP

<lang gap># Built-in Combinations([1 .. n], m);

Combinations([1 .. 5], 3);

  1. [ [ 1, 2, 3 ], [ 1, 2, 4 ], [ 1, 2, 5 ], [ 1, 3, 4 ], [ 1, 3, 5 ],
  2. [ 1, 4, 5 ], [ 2, 3, 4 ], [ 2, 3, 5 ], [ 2, 4, 5 ], [ 3, 4, 5 ] ]</lang>

Go

<lang go>package main

import (

   "fmt"

)

func main() {

   comb(5, 3, func(c []int) {
       fmt.Println(c)
   })

}

func comb(n, m int, emit func([]int)) {

   s := make([]int, m)
   last := m - 1
   var rc func(int, int)
   rc = func(i, next int) {
       for j := next; j < n; j++ {
           s[i] = j
           if i == last {
               emit(s)
           } else {
               rc(i+1, j+1)
           }
       }
       return
   }
   rc(0, 0)

}</lang> Output:

[0 1 2]
[0 1 3]
[0 1 4]
[0 2 3]
[0 2 4]
[0 3 4]
[1 2 3]
[1 2 4]
[1 3 4]
[2 3 4]

Groovy

Following the spirit of the Haskell solution.

In General

A recursive closure must be pre-declared. <lang groovy>def comb comb = { m, list ->

   def n = list.size()
   m == 0 ?
       [[]] :
       (0..(n-m)).inject([]) { newlist, k ->
           def sublist = (k+1 == n) ? [] : list[(k+1)..<n] 
           newlist += comb(m-1, sublist).collect { [list[k]] + it }
       }

}</lang>

Test program: <lang groovy>def csny = [ "Crosby", "Stills", "Nash", "Young" ] println "Choose from ${csny}" (0..(csny.size())).each { i -> println "Choose ${i}:"; comb(i, csny).each { println it }; println() }</lang>

Output:

Choose from [Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young]
Choose 0:
[]

Choose 1:
[Crosby]
[Stills]
[Nash]
[Young]

Choose 2:
[Crosby, Stills]
[Crosby, Nash]
[Crosby, Young]
[Stills, Nash]
[Stills, Young]
[Nash, Young]

Choose 3:
[Crosby, Stills, Nash]
[Crosby, Stills, Young]
[Crosby, Nash, Young]
[Stills, Nash, Young]

Choose 4:
[Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young]

Zero-based Integers

<lang groovy>def comb0 = { m, n -> comb(m, (0..<n)) }</lang>

Test program: <lang groovy>println "Choose out of 5 (zero-based):" (0..3).each { i -> println "Choose ${i}:"; comb0(i, 5).each { println it }; println() }</lang>

Output:

Choose out of 5 (zero-based):
Choose 0:
[]

Choose 1:
[0]
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]

Choose 2:
[0, 1]
[0, 2]
[0, 3]
[0, 4]
[1, 2]
[1, 3]
[1, 4]
[2, 3]
[2, 4]
[3, 4]

Choose 3:
[0, 1, 2]
[0, 1, 3]
[0, 1, 4]
[0, 2, 3]
[0, 2, 4]
[0, 3, 4]
[1, 2, 3]
[1, 2, 4]
[1, 3, 4]
[2, 3, 4]

One-based Integers

<lang groovy>def comb1 = { m, n -> comb(m, (1..n)) }</lang>

Test program: <lang groovy>println "Choose out of 5 (one-based):" (0..3).each { i -> println "Choose ${i}:"; comb1(i, 5).each { println it }; println() }</lang>

Output:

Choose out of 5 (one-based):
Choose 0:
[]

Choose 1:
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]

Choose 2:
[1, 2]
[1, 3]
[1, 4]
[1, 5]
[2, 3]
[2, 4]
[2, 5]
[3, 4]
[3, 5]
[4, 5]

Choose 3:
[1, 2, 3]
[1, 2, 4]
[1, 2, 5]
[1, 3, 4]
[1, 3, 5]
[1, 4, 5]
[2, 3, 4]
[2, 3, 5]
[2, 4, 5]
[3, 4, 5]

Haskell

It's more natural to extend the task to all (ordered) sublists of size m of a list.

Straightforward, unoptimized implementation with divide-and-conquer: <lang haskell>comb :: Int -> [a] -> a comb 0 _ = [[]] comb _ [] = [] comb m (x:xs) = map (x:) (comb (m-1) xs) ++ comb m xs</lang>

In the induction step, either x is not in the result and the recursion proceeds with the rest of the list xs, or it is in the result and then we only need m-1 elements.

Shorter version of the above: <lang haskell>import Data.List (tails)

comb :: Int -> [a] -> a comb 0 _ = [[]] comb m l = [x:ys | x:xs <- tails l, ys <- comb (m-1) xs]</lang>

To generate combinations of integers between 0 and n-1, use

<lang haskell>comb0 m n = comb m [0..n-1]</lang>

Similar, for integers between 1 and n, use

<lang haskell>comb1 m n = comb m [1..n]</lang>

Another method is to use the built in Data.List.subsequences function, filter for subsequences of length m and then sort:

<lang haskell> import Data.List (sort, subsequences) comb m n = sort . filter ((==m) . length) $ subsequences [0..n-1] </lang>

And yet another way is to use the list monad to generate all possible subsets:

<lang haskell> comb m n = filter ((==m . length) $ filterM (const [True, False]) [0..n-1] </lang>

Dynamic Programming

The first solution is inefficient because it repeatedly calculates the same subproblem in different branches of recursion. For example, comb m (x1:x2:xs) involves computing comb (m-1) (x2:xs) and comb m (x2:xs), both of which (separately) compute comb (m-1) xs. To avoid repeated computation, we can use dynamic programming:

<lang haskell> comb :: Int -> [a] -> a comb m xs = combsBySize xs !! m

where
  combsBySize = foldr f ([[]] : repeat [])
  f x next = zipWith (++) (map (map (x:)) ([]:next)) next

</lang>

Icon and Unicon

<lang Icon>procedure main() return combinations(3,5,0) end

procedure combinations(m,n,z) # demonstrate combinations /z := 1

write(m," combinations of ",n," integers starting from ",z) every put(L := [], z to n - 1 + z by 1) # generate list of n items from z write("Intial list\n",list2string(L)) write("Combinations:") every write(list2string(lcomb(L,m))) end

procedure list2string(L) # helper function every (s := "[") ||:= " " || (!L|"]") return s end

link lists</lang>

The

provides the core procedure lcomb in lists written by Ralph E. Griswold and Richard L. Goerwitz.

<lang Icon>procedure lcomb(L,i) #: list combinations

  local j
  if i < 1 then fail
  suspend if i = 1 then [!L]
     else [L[j := 1 to *L - i + 1]] ||| lcomb(L[j + 1:0],i - 1)

end</lang>

Sample output:

3 combinations of 5 integers starting from 0
Intial list
[ 0 1 2 3 4 ]
Combinations:
[ 0 1 2 ]
[ 0 1 3 ]
[ 0 1 4 ]
[ 0 2 3 ]
[ 0 2 4 ]
[ 0 3 4 ]
[ 1 2 3 ]
[ 1 2 4 ]
[ 1 3 4 ]
[ 2 3 4 ]

J

Iteration

<lang j>comb1=: dyad define

 c=. 1 {.~ - d=. 1+y-x
 z=. i.1 0
 for_j. (d-1+y)+/&i.d do. z=. (c#j) ,. z{~;(-c){.&.><i.{.c=. +/\.c end.

)</lang>

Recursion

<lang j>comb=: dyad define M.

 if. (x>:y)+.0=x do. i.(x<:y),x else. (0,.x comb&.<: y),1+x comb y-1 end.

)</lang> The M. uses memoization which greatly reduces the running time.

Brute Force

We can also generate all permutations and exclude those which are not properly sorted combinations. This is inefficient, but efficiency is not always important. <lang j>combb=: (#~ ((-:/:~)>/:~-:\:~)"1)@(# #: [: i. ^~)</lang>

Java

Translation of: JavaScript
Works with: Java version 1.5+

<lang java5>import java.util.Collections; import java.util.LinkedList;

public class Comb{

       public static void main(String[] args){
               System.out.println(comb(3,5));
       }
       public static String bitprint(int u){
               String s= "";
               for(int n= 0;u > 0;++n, u>>= 1)
                       if((u & 1) > 0) s+= n + " ";
               return s;
       }
       public static int bitcount(int u){
               int n;
               for(n= 0;u > 0;++n, u&= (u - 1));//Turn the last set bit to a 0
               return n;
       }
       public static LinkedList<String> comb(int c, int n){
               LinkedList<String> s= new LinkedList<String>();
               for(int u= 0;u < 1 << n;u++)
                       if(bitcount(u) == c) s.push(bitprint(u));
               Collections.sort(s);
               return s;
       }

}</lang>

JavaScript

<lang javascript>function bitprint(u) {

 var s="";
 for (var n=0; u; ++n, u>>=1)
   if (u&1) s+=n+" ";
 return s;

} function bitcount(u) {

 for (var n=0; u; ++n, u=u&(u-1));
 return n;

} function comb(c,n) {

 var s=[];
 for (var u=0; u<1<<n; u++)
   if (bitcount(u)==c)
     s.push(bitprint(u))
 return s.sort();

} comb(3,5)</lang>

Alternative recursive version using and an array of values instead of length:

Translation of: Python

<lang javascript>function combinations(arr, k){

   var i,
   subI,
   ret = [],
   sub,
   next;
   for(i = 0; i < arr.length; i++){
       if(k === 1){
           ret.push( [ arr[i] ] );
       }else{
           sub = combinations(arr.slice(i+1, arr.length), k-1);
           for(subI = 0; subI < sub.length; subI++ ){
               next = sub[subI];
               next.unshift(arr[i]);
               ret.push( next );
           }
       }
   }
   return ret;

} combinations([0,1,2,3,4], 3); // produces: [[0, 1, 2], [0, 1, 3], [0, 1, 4], [0, 2, 3], [0, 2, 4], [0, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3], [1, 2, 4], [1, 3, 4], [2, 3, 4]]

combinations(["Crosby", "Stills", "Nash", "Young"], 3); // produces: [["Crosby", "Stills", "Nash"], ["Crosby", "Stills", "Young"], ["Crosby", "Nash", "Young"], ["Stills", "Nash", "Young"]] </lang>

Julia

There is a built-in function combinations that generates an iterable sequence of the combinations that you can loop over. (Note that the combinations are computed on the fly during the loop iteration, and are not pre-computed or stored since there many be a very large number of them.) <lang julia>for i in combinations(1:5,3)

   print(i')

end</lang>

Output:
1	2	3
1	2	4
1	2	5
1	3	4
1	3	5
1	4	5
2	3	4
2	3	5
2	4	5
3	4	5

<lang logo>to comb :n :list

 if :n = 0 [output [[]]]
 if empty? :list [output []]
 output sentence map [sentence first :list ?] comb :n-1 bf :list ~
                 comb :n bf :list

end print comb 3 [0 1 2 3 4]</lang>

Lua

<lang lua> -- Recursive version function map(f, a, ...) if a then return f(a), map(f, ...) end end function incr(k) return function(a) return k > a and a or a+1 end end function combs(m, n)

 if m * n == 0 then return {{}} end
 local ret, old = {}, combs(m-1, n-1)
 for i = 1, n do
   for k, v in ipairs(old) do ret[#ret+1] = {i, map(incr(i), unpack(v))} end
 end
 return ret

end

for k, v in ipairs(combs(3, 5)) do print(unpack(v)) end

-- Iterative version function icombs(a,b)

   if a==0 then return end
   local taken = {} local slots = {}
   for i=1,a do slots[i]=0 end
   for i=1,b do taken[i]=false end
   local index = 1
   while index > 0 do repeat
       repeat slots[index] = slots[index] + 1
       until slots[index] > b or not taken[slots[index]]
       if slots[index] > b then
           slots[index] = 0
           index = index - 1
           if index > 0 then
               taken[slots[index]] = false
           end
           break
       else
           taken[slots[index]] = true
       end
       if index == a then
           for i=1,a do io.write(slots[i]) io.write(" ") end
           io.write("\n")
           taken[slots[index]] = false
           break
       end
       index = index + 1
   until true end

end

icombs(3, 5) </lang>

Mathematica

<lang Mathematica>combinations[n_Integer, m_Integer]/;m>= 0:=Union[Sort /@ Permutations[Range[0, n - 1], {m}]]</lang>

M4

<lang M4>divert(-1) define(`set',`define(`$1[$2]',`$3')') define(`get',`defn(`$1[$2]')') define(`setrange',`ifelse(`$3',`',$2,`define($1[$2],$3)`'setrange($1,

  incr($2),shift(shift(shift($@))))')')

define(`for',

  `ifelse($#,0,``$0,
  `ifelse(eval($2<=$3),1,
  `pushdef(`$1',$2)$4`'popdef(`$1')$0(`$1',incr($2),$3,`$4')')')')

define(`show',

  `for(`k',0,decr($1),`get(a,k) ')')

define(`chklim',

  `ifelse(get(`a',$3),eval($2-($1-$3)),
     `chklim($1,$2,decr($3))',
     `set(`a',$3,incr(get(`a',$3)))`'for(`k',incr($3),decr($2),
        `set(`a',k,incr(get(`a',decr(k))))')`'nextcomb($1,$2)')')

define(`nextcomb',

  `show($1)

ifelse(eval(get(`a',0)<$2-$1),1,

     `chklim($1,$2,decr($1))')')

define(`comb',

  `for(`j',0,decr($1),`set(`a',j,j)')`'nextcomb($1,$2)')

divert

comb(3,5)</lang>

MATLAB

This a built-in function in MATLAB called "nchoosek(n,k)". The argument "n" is a vector of values from which the combinations are made, and "k" is a scalar representing the amount of values to include in each combination.

Task Solution: <lang MATLAB>>> nchoosek((0:4),3)

ans =

    0     1     2
    0     1     3
    0     1     4
    0     2     3
    0     2     4
    0     3     4
    1     2     3
    1     2     4
    1     3     4
    2     3     4</lang>

Maxima

<lang maxima>next_comb(n, p, a) := block(

  [a: copylist(a), i: p],
  if a[1] + p = n + 1 then return(und),
  while a[i] - i >= n - p do i: i - 1,
  a[i]: a[i] + 1,
  for j from i + 1 thru p do a[j]: a[j - 1] + 1,
  a

)$

combinations(n, p) := block(

  [a: makelist(i, i, 1, p), v: [ ]],
  while a # 'und do (v: endcons(a, v), a: next_comb(n, p, a)),
  v

)$

combinations(5, 3); /* [[1, 2, 3],

   [1, 2, 4], 
   [1, 2, 5], 
   [1, 3, 4], 
   [1, 3, 5], 
   [1, 4, 5], 
   [2, 3, 4], 
   [2, 3, 5], 
   [2, 4, 5], 
   [3, 4, 5]] */</lang>

OCaml

Like the Haskell code:

<lang ocaml>let rec comb m lst =

 match m, lst with
   0, _ -> [[]]
 | _, [] -> []
 | m, x :: xs -> List.map (fun y -> x :: y) (comb (pred m) xs) @
                 comb m xs

comb 3 [0;1;2;3;4];;</lang>

Octave

<lang octave>nchoosek([0:4], 3)</lang>

Oz

This can be implemented as a trivial application of finite set constraints: <lang oz>declare

 fun {Comb M N}
    proc {CombScript Comb}
       %% Comb is a subset of [0..N-1]
       Comb = {FS.var.upperBound {List.number 0 N-1 1}}
       %% Comb has cardinality M
       {FS.card Comb M}
       %% enumerate all possibilities
       {FS.distribute naive [Comb]}
    end
 in
    %% Collect all solutions and convert to lists
    {Map {SearchAll CombScript} FS.reflect.upperBoundList}
 end

in

 {Inspect {Comb 3 5}}</lang>

PARI/GP

<lang parigp>c(n,k,r,d)={

   if(d==k,
       for(i=2,k+1,
           print1(r[i]" "));
       print
   ,
       for(i=r[d+1]+1,n,
           r[d+2]=i;
           c(n,k,r,d+1)));

}

c(5,3,vector(5,i,i-1),0) </lang>

Pascal

<lang pascal>Program Combinations;

const

m_max = 3;
n_max = 5;

var

combination: array [1..m_max] of integer;
procedure generate(m: integer);
 var
  n, i: integer;
 begin
  if (m > m_max) then
   begin
   for i := 1 to m_max do
    write (combination[i], ' ');
   writeln;
   end
  else
   for n := 1 to n_max do
    if ((m = 1) or (n > combination[m-1])) then
     begin
      combination[m] := n;
      generate(m + 1);
     end;
  end; 

begin

generate(1);

end.</lang>

output

1 2 3 
1 2 4 
1 2 5 
1 3 4 
1 3 5 
1 4 5 
2 3 4 
2 3 5 
2 4 5 
3 4 5 

Perl

<lang perl>use Math::Combinatorics;

@n = (0 .. 4); print join("\n", map { join(" ", @{$_}) } combine(3, @n)), "\n";</lang>

Perl5i

Use a recursive solution, derived from the Perl6 (Haskell) solution

  • If we run out of eligable characters, we've gone too far, and won't find a solution along this path.
  • If we are looking for a single character, each character in @set is elegible, so return each as the single element of an array.
  • We have not yet reached the last character, so there are two possibilities:
    1. push the first element of the set onto the front of an N-1 length combination from the remainder of the set.
    2. skip the current element, and generate an N-length combination from the remainder

The major Perl5i -isms are the implicit "autoboxing" of the intermediate resulting array into an array object, with the use of unshift() as a method, and the "func" keyword and signature. Note that Perl can construct ranges of numbers or of letters, so it is natural to identify the characters as 'a' .. 'e'. <lang Perl5i> use perl5i::2;

  1. ----------------------------------------
  2. generate combinations of length $n consisting of characters
  3. from the sorted set @set, using each character once in a
  4. combination, with sorted strings in sorted order.
  5. Returns a list of array references, each containing one combination.

func combine($n, @set) {

 return unless @set;
 return map { [ $_ ] } @set if $n == 1;
 my ($head) = shift @set;
 my @result = combine( $n-1, @set );
 for my $subarray ( @result ) {
  $subarray->unshift( $head );
 }
 return ( @result, combine( $n, @set ) );

}

say @$_ for combine( 3, ('a'..'e') ); </lang>

Output

abc
abd
abe
acd
ace
ade
bcd
bce
bde
cde

Perl 6

Works with: rakudo version 2014-01-24

<lang perl6>.say for combinations(5,3);</lang>

Output:
0 1 2
0 1 3
0 1 4
0 2 3
0 2 4
0 3 4
1 2 3
1 2 4
1 3 4
2 3 4

Here is a more explicit code, with the same output.

<lang perl6>sub combinations(Int $n, Int $k) {

   return [] if $k == 0;
   return () if $k > $n;
   gather {
       take [0, (1..^$n)[@$_]] for combinations($n-1, $k-1);
       take [(1..^$n)[@$_]]    for combinations($n-1, $k  );
   }

}

.say for combinations(5, 3);</lang> The built-in functions is somewhat faster, however. Go figure.

PicoLisp

Translation of: Scheme

<lang PicoLisp>(de comb (M Lst)

  (cond
     ((=0 M) '(NIL))
     ((not Lst))
     (T
        (conc
           (mapcar
              '((Y) (cons (car Lst) Y))
              (comb (dec M) (cdr Lst)) )
           (comb M (cdr Lst)) ) ) ) )

(comb 3 (1 2 3 4 5))</lang>

Pop11

Natural recursive solution: first we choose first number i and then we recursively generate all combinations of m - 1 numbers between i + 1 and n - 1. Main work is done in the internal 'do_combs' function, the outer 'comb' just sets up variable to accumulate results and reverses the final result.

The 'el_lst' parameter to 'do_combs' contains partial combination (list of numbers which were chosen in previous steps) in reverse order.

<lang pop11>define comb(n, m);

   lvars ress = [];
   define do_combs(l, m, el_lst);
       lvars i;
       if m = 0 then
           cons(rev(el_lst), ress) -> ress;
       else
           for i from l to n - m do
               do_combs(i + 1, m - 1, cons(i, el_lst));
           endfor;
       endif;
   enddefine;
   do_combs(0, m, []);
   rev(ress);

enddefine;

comb(5, 3) ==></lang>

Prolog

The solutions work with SWI-Prolog
Solution with library clpfd : we first create a list of M elements, we say that the members of the list are numbers between 1 and N and there are in ascending order, finally we ask for a solution. <lang prolog>:- use_module(library(clpfd)).

comb_clpfd(L, M, N) :-

   length(L, M),
   L ins 1..N,
   chain(L, #<),
   label(L).</lang>

output :
<lang prolog> ?- comb_clpfd(L, 3, 5), writeln(L), fail. [1,2,3] [1,2,4] [1,2,5] [1,3,4] [1,3,5] [1,4,5] [2,3,4] [2,3,5] [2,4,5] [3,4,5] false.</lang> Another solution : <lang prolog>comb_Prolog(L, M, N) :-

   length(L, M),
   fill(L, 1, N).

fill([], _, _).

fill([H | T], Min, Max) :-

   between(Min, Max, H),
   H1 is H + 1,
   fill(T, H1, Max).

</lang> with the same output.

List comprehension

Works with SWI-Prolog, library clpfd from Markus Triska, and list comprehension (see List comprehensions ). <lang Prolog>:- use_module(library(clpfd)). comb_lstcomp(N, M, V) :- V <- {L & length(L, N), L ins 1..M & all_distinct(L), chain(L, #<), label(L)}. </lang>

Output :

2?- comb_lstcomp(3, 5, V).
V = [[1,2,3],[1,2,4],[1,2,5],[1,3,4],[1,3,5],[1,4,5],[2,3,4],[2,3,5],[2,4,5],[3,4,5]] ;
false.

Pure

<lang pure>comb m n = comb m (0..n-1) with

 comb 0 _ = [[]];
 comb _ [] = [];
 comb m (x:xs) = [x:xs | xs = comb (m-1) xs] + comb m xs;

end;

comb 3 5;</lang>

PureBasic

<lang PureBasic>Procedure.s Combinations(amount, choose)

 NewList comb.s()
 ; all possible combinations with {amount} Bits
 For a = 0 To 1 << amount
   count = 0
   ; count set bits
   For x = 0 To amount
     If (1 << x)&a
       count + 1
     EndIf
   Next
   ; if set bits are equal to combination length
   ; we generate a String representing our combination and add it to list
   If count = choose
     string$ = ""
     For x = 0 To amount
       If (a >> x)&1
         ; replace x by x+1 to start counting with 1
         String$ + Str(x) + " "
       EndIf
     Next
     AddElement(comb())
     comb() = string$
   EndIf
 Next
 ; now we sort our list and format it for output as string
 SortList(comb(), #PB_Sort_Ascending)
 ForEach comb()
   out$ + ", [ " + comb() + "]"
 Next
 ProcedureReturn Mid(out$, 3)

EndProcedure

Debug Combinations(5, 3)</lang>

Python

Starting from Python 2.6 and 3.0 you have a pre-defined function that returns an iterator. Here we turn the result into a list for easy printing: <lang python>>>> from itertools import combinations >>> list(combinations(range(5),3)) [(0, 1, 2), (0, 1, 3), (0, 1, 4), (0, 2, 3), (0, 2, 4), (0, 3, 4), (1, 2, 3), (1, 2, 4), (1, 3, 4), (2, 3, 4)]</lang>

Earlier versions could use functions like the following:

Translation of: E

<lang python>def comb(m, lst):

   if m == 0:
       return [[]]
   else:
       return [[x] + suffix for i, x in enumerate(lst)
               for suffix in comb(m - 1, lst[i + 1:])]</lang>

Example: <lang python>>>> comb(3, range(5)) [[0, 1, 2], [0, 1, 3], [0, 1, 4], [0, 2, 3], [0, 2, 4], [0, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3], [1, 2, 4], [1, 3, 4], [2, 3, 4]]</lang>

Translation of: Haskell

<lang python>def comb(m, s):

   if m == 0: return [[]]
   if s == []: return []
   return [s[:1] + a for a in comb(m-1, s[1:])] + comb(m, s[1:])

print comb(3, range(5))</lang>

Racket

Translation of: Haskell

<lang racket> (define sublists

 (match-lambda**
  [(0 _)           '(())]
  [(_ '())         '()]
  [(m (cons x xs)) (append (map (curry cons x) (sublists (- m 1) xs)) 
                           (sublists m xs))]))

(define (combinations n m)

 (sublists n (range m)))

</lang>

Output:

> (combinations 3 5)
'((0 1 2)
  (0 1 3)
  (0 1 4)
  (0 2 3)
  (0 2 4)
  (0 3 4)
  (1 2 3)
  (1 2 4)
  (1 3 4)
  (2 3 4))

R

<lang R>print(combn(0:4, 3))</lang> Combinations are organized per column, so to provide an output similar to the one in the task text, we need the following: <lang R>r <- combn(0:4, 3) for(i in 1:choose(5,3)) print(r[,i])</lang>

REXX

This REXX program supports up to 62 symbols (one symbol for each "thing").
It supports any number of "things" beyond the 62 symbols by using the actual number instead of a symbol. <lang rexx>/*REXX program shows combination sets for X things taken Y at a time*/ @abc='abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz'; @abcU=@abc; upper @abcU; @digs=123456789 parse arg x y symbols .; if x== | x==',' then x=5

                         if y== | y==',' then y=3

if symbols== then symbols=@digs||@abc||@abcU /*symbol table string.*/ say "────────────" x 'things taken' y "at a time:" say "────────────" combN(x,y) 'combinations.' exit /*stick a fork in it, we're done.*/ /*──────────────────────────────────COMBN subroutine────────────────────*/ combN: procedure expose symbols; parse arg x,y; base=x+1; bbase=base-y !.=0; do i=1 for y;  !.i=i

               end   /*i*/
         do j=1;  L=;           do d=1 for y
                                L=L   word(substr(symbols,!.d,1)   !.d,1)
                                end   /*d*/
         say L
         !.y=!.y+1;   if !.y==base   then   if .combUp(y-1)   then leave
         end         /*j*/

return j

.combUp: procedure expose !. y bbase; parse arg d; if d==0 then return 1 p=!.d; do u=d to y;  !.u=p+1

             if !.u==bbase+u then return .combUp(u-1)
             p=!.u
             end     /*u*/

return 0</lang> output when the following was specified: 5 3 01234

──────────── 5 things taken 3 at a time:
 0 1 2
 0 1 3
 0 1 4
 0 2 3
 0 2 4
 0 3 4
 1 2 3
 1 2 4
 1 3 4
 2 3 4
──────────── 10 combinations.

output when the following was specified: 5 3 abcde

──────────── 5 things taken 3 at a time:
 a b c
 a b d
 a b e
 a c d
 a c e
 a d e
 b c d
 b c e
 b d e
 c d e
──────────── 10 combinations.

Ruby

Works with: Ruby version 1.8.7+

<lang ruby>def comb(m, n)

 (0...n).to_a.combination(m).to_a

end

comb(3, 5) # => [[0, 1, 2], [0, 1, 3], [0, 1, 4], [0, 2, 3], [0, 2, 4], [0, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3], [1, 2, 4], [1, 3, 4], [2, 3, 4]]</lang>

Scala

<lang scala>implicit def toComb(m: Int) = new AnyRef {

 def comb(n: Int) = recurse(m, List.range(0, n))
 private def recurse(m: Int, l: List[Int]): List[List[Int]] = (m, l) match {
   case (0, _)   => List(Nil)
   case (_, Nil) => Nil
   case _        => (recurse(m - 1, l.tail) map (l.head :: _)) ::: recurse(m, l.tail)
 }

}</lang>

Usage:

scala> 3 comb 5
res170: List[List[Int]] = List(List(0, 1, 2), List(0, 1, 3), List(0, 1, 4), List(0, 2, 3), List(0, 2, 4), List(0, 3, 4),
 List(1, 2, 3), List(1, 2, 4), List(1, 3, 4), List(2, 3, 4))

Scala 2.9.x

Works with: Scala version 2.9.1

<lang scala>scala> (0 to 4 toList) combinations(3) toList res1: List[List[Int]] = List(List(0, 1, 2), List(0, 1, 3), List(0, 1, 4), List(0, 2, 3), List(0, 2, 4), List(0, 3, 4), List(1, 2, 3), List(1, 2, 4), List(1, 3, 4), List(2, 3, 4)) </lang>

Scheme

Like the Haskell code: <lang scheme>(define (comb m lst)

 (cond ((= m 0) '(()))
       ((null? lst) '())
       (else (append (map (lambda (y) (cons (car lst) y))
                          (comb (- m 1) (cdr lst)))
                     (comb m (cdr lst))))))

(comb 3 '(0 1 2 3 4))</lang>

Seed7

<lang seed7>$ include "seed7_05.s7i";

const type: combinations is array array integer;

const func combinations: comb (in array integer: arr, in integer: k) is func

 result
   var combinations: combResult is combinations.value;
 local
   var integer: x is 0;
   var integer: i is 0;
   var array integer: suffix is 0 times 0;
 begin
   if k = 0 then
     combResult := 1 times 0 times 0;
   else
     for x key i range arr do
       for suffix range comb(arr[succ(i) ..], pred(k)) do
         combResult &:= [] (x) & suffix;
       end for;
     end for;
   end if;
 end func;

const proc: main is func

 local
   var array integer: aCombination is 0 times 0;
   var integer: element is 0;
 begin
   for aCombination range comb([] (0, 1, 2, 3, 4), 3) do
     for element range aCombination do
       write(element lpad 3);
     end for;
     writeln;
   end for;
 end func;</lang>

Output:

  0  1  2
  0  1  3
  0  1  4
  0  2  3
  0  2  4
  0  3  4
  1  2  3
  1  2  4
  1  3  4
  2  3  4

SETL

<lang SETL>print({0..4} npow 3);</lang>

Smalltalk

Works with: Pharo version 1.3-13315

<lang smalltalk> (0 to: 4)

   combinations: 3 atATimeDo: [ :x | 
       ':-)' logCr: x ].

"output on Transcript:

  1. (0 1 2)
  2. (0 1 3)
  3. (0 1 4)
  4. (0 2 3)
  5. (0 2 4)
  6. (0 3 4)
  7. (1 2 3)
  8. (1 2 4)
  9. (1 3 4)
  10. (2 3 4)"

</lang>

Standard ML

<lang sml>fun comb (0, _ ) = [[]]

 | comb (_, []   ) = []
 | comb (m, x::xs) = map (fn y => x :: y) (comb (m-1, xs)) @
                 comb (m, xs)

comb (3, [0,1,2,3,4]);</lang>

Tcl

ref[1] <lang tcl>proc comb {m n} {

   set set [list]
   for {set i 0} {$i < $n} {incr i} {lappend set $i}
   return [combinations $set $m]

} proc combinations {list size} {

   if {$size == 0} {
       return [list [list]]
   }
   set retval {}
   for {set i 0} {($i + $size) <= [llength $list]} {incr i} {
       set firstElement [lindex $list $i]
       set remainingElements [lrange $list [expr {$i + 1}] end]
       foreach subset [combinations $remainingElements [expr {$size - 1}]] {
           lappend retval [linsert $subset 0 $firstElement]
       }
   }
   return $retval

}

comb 3 5 ;# ==> {0 1 2} {0 1 3} {0 1 4} {0 2 3} {0 2 4} {0 3 4} {1 2 3} {1 2 4} {1 3 4} {2 3 4}</lang>

TXR

TXR has repeating and non-repeating permutation and combination functions that produce lazy lists. They are generic over lists, strings and vectors. In addition, the combinations function also works over hashes.

Combinations and permutations are produced in lexicographic order (except in the case of hashes).

<lang txr>@(do

  (defun comb-n-m (n m)
    (comb (range* 0 n) m))
  (print (comb-n-m 5 3))
  (put-line ""))</lang>

Run:

$ txr combinations.txr 
((0 1 2) (0 1 3) (0 1 4) (0 2 3) (0 2 4) (0 3 4) (1 2 4) (1 3 4) (2 3 4))

Ursala

Most of the work is done by the standard library function choices, whose implementation is shown here for the sake of comparison with other solutions, <lang Ursala>choices = ^(iota@r,~&l); leql@a^& ~&al?\&! ~&arh2fabt2RDfalrtPXPRT</lang> where leql is the predicate that compares list lengths. The main body of the algorithm (~&arh2fabt2RDfalrtPXPRT) concatenates the results of two recursive calls, one of which finds all combinations of the required size from the tail of the list, and the other of which finds all combinations of one less size from the tail, and then inserts the head into each. choices generates combinations of an arbitrary set but not necessarily in sorted order, which can be done like this. <lang Ursala>#import std

  1. import nat

combinations = @rlX choices^|(iota,~&); -< @p nleq+ ==-~rh</lang>

  • The sort combinator (-<) takes a binary predicate to a function that sorts a list in order of that predicate.
  • The predicate in this case begins by zipping its two arguments together with @p.
  • The prefiltering operator -~ scans a list from the beginning until it finds the first item to falsify a predicate (in this case equality, ==) and returns a pair of lists with the scanned items satisfying the predicate on the left and the remaining items on the right.
  • The rh suffix on the -~ operator causes it to return only the head of the right list as its result, which in this case will be the first pair of unequal items in the list.
  • The nleq function then tests whether the left side of this pair is less than or equal to the right.
  • The overall effect of using everything starting from the @p as the predicate to a sort combinator is therefore to sort a list of lists of natural numbers according to the order of the numbers in the first position where they differ.

test program: <lang Ursala>#cast %nLL

example = combinations(3,5)</lang> output:

<
   <0,1,2>,
   <0,1,3>,
   <0,1,4>,
   <0,2,3>,
   <0,2,4>,
   <0,3,4>,
   <1,2,3>,
   <1,2,4>,
   <1,3,4>,
   <2,3,4>>

V

like scheme (using variables) <lang v>[comb [m lst] let

  [ [m zero?] [[[]]]
    [lst null?] [[]]
    [true] [m pred lst rest comb [lst first swap cons]  map
           m lst rest comb concat]
  ] when].</lang>

Using destructuring view and stack not *pure at all <lang v>[comb

  [ [pop zero?] [pop pop [[]]]
    [null?] [pop pop []]
    [true] [ [m lst : [m pred lst rest comb [lst first swap cons]  map
           m lst rest comb concat]] view i ]
  ] when].</lang>

Pure concatenative version <lang v>[comb

  [2dup [a b : a b a b] view].
  [2pop pop pop].
  [ [pop zero?] [2pop [[]]]
    [null?] [2pop []]
    [true] [2dup [pred] dip uncons swapd comb [cons] map popd rollup rest comb concat]
  ] when].</lang>

Using it

|3 [0 1 2 3 4] comb
=[[0 1 2] [0 1 3] [0 1 4] [0 2 3] [0 2 4] [0 3 4] [1 2 3] [1 2 4] [1 3 4] [2 3 4]]

XPL0

<lang XPL0>code ChOut=8, CrLf=9, IntOut=11; def M=3, N=5; int A(N-1);

proc Combos(D, S); \Display all size M combinations of N in sorted order int D, S; \depth of recursion, starting value of N int I; [if D<M then \depth < size

     for I:= S to N-1 do
       [A(D):= I;
       Combos(D+1, I+1);
       ]

else [for I:= 0 to M-1 do

       [IntOut(0, A(I));  ChOut(0, ^ )];
    CrLf(0);
    ];

];

Combos(0, 0)</lang>

Output:

0 1 2 
0 1 3 
0 1 4 
0 2 3 
0 2 4 
0 3 4 
1 2 3 
1 2 4 
1 3 4 
2 3 4