Algorithm to generate a sequence proportional to specified percentage - algorithm

Question

Given a Map of objects and designated proportions (let's say they add up to 100 to make it easy):
val ss : Map[String,Double] = Map("A"->42, "B"->32, "C"->26)
How can I generate a sequence such that for a subset of size n there are ~42% "A"s, ~32% "B"s and ~26% "C"s? (Obviously, small n will have larger errors).
(Work language is Scala, but I'm just asking for the algorithm.)
UPDATE: I resisted a random approach since, for instance, there's ~16% chance that the sequence would start with AA and ~11% chance it would start with BB and there would be very low odds that for n precisely == (sum of proportions) the distribution would be perfect. So, following #MvG's answer, I implemented as follows:
/**
Returns the key whose achieved proportions are most below desired proportions
*/
def next[T](proportions : Map[T, Double], achievedToDate : Map[T,Double]) : T = {
val proportionsSum = proportions.values.sum
val desiredPercentages = proportions.mapValues(v => v / proportionsSum)
//Initially no achieved percentages, so avoid / 0
val toDateTotal = if(achievedToDate.values.sum == 0.0){
1
}else{
achievedToDate.values.sum
}
val achievedPercentages = achievedToDate.mapValues(v => v / toDateTotal)
val gaps = achievedPercentages.map{ case (k, v) =>
val gap = desiredPercentages(k) - v
(k -> gap)
}
val maxUnder = gaps.values.toList.sortWith(_ > _).head
//println("Max gap is " + maxUnder)
val gapsForMaxUnder = gaps.mapValues{v => Math.abs(v - maxUnder) < Double.Epsilon }
val keysByHasMaxUnder = gapsForMaxUnder.map(_.swap)
keysByHasMaxUnder(true)
}
/**
Stream of most-fair next element
*/
def proportionalStream[T](proportions : Map[T, Double], toDate : Map[T, Double]) : Stream[T] = {
val nextS = next(proportions, toDate)
val tailToDate = toDate + (nextS -> (toDate(nextS) + 1.0))
Stream.cons(
nextS,
proportionalStream(proportions, tailToDate)
)
}
That when used, e.g., :
val ss : Map[String,Double] = Map("A"->42, "B"->32, "C"->26)
val none : Map[String,Double] = ss.mapValues(_ => 0.0)
val mySequence = (proportionalStream(ss, none) take 100).toList
println("Desired : " + ss)
println("Achieved : " + mySequence.groupBy(identity).mapValues(_.size))
mySequence.map(s => print(s))
println
produces :
Desired : Map(A -> 42.0, B -> 32.0, C -> 26.0)
Achieved : Map(C -> 26, A -> 42, B -> 32)
ABCABCABACBACABACBABACABCABACBACABABCABACABCABACBA
CABABCABACBACABACBABACABCABACBACABABCABACABCABACBA

Answer 1

For a deterministic approach, the most obvious solution would probably be this:
Keep track of the number of occurrences of each item in the sequence so far.
For the next item, choose that item for which the difference between intended and actual count (or proportion, if you prefer that) is maximal, but only if the intended count (resp. proportion) is greater than the actual one.
If there is a tie, break it in an arbitrary but deterministic way, e.g. choosing the alphabetically lowest item.
This approach would ensure an optimal adherence to the prescribed ratio for every prefix of the infinite sequence generated in this way.
Quick & dirty python proof of concept (don't expect any of the variable “names” to make any sense):
import sys
p = [0.42, 0.32, 0.26]
c = [0, 0, 0]
a = ['A', 'B', 'C']
n = 0
while n < 70*5:
n += 1
x = 0
s = n*p[0] - c[0]
for i in [1, 2]:
si = n*p[i] - c[i]
if si > s:
x = i
s = si
sys.stdout.write(a[x])
if n % 70 == 0:
sys.stdout.write('\n')
c[x] += 1
Generates
ABCABCABACABACBABCAABCABACBACABACBABCABACABACBACBAABCABCABACABACBABCAB
ACABACBACABACBABCABACABACBACBAABCABCABACABACBABCAABCABACBACABACBABCABA
CABACBACBAABCABCABACABACBABCABACABACBACBAACBABCABACABACBACBAABCABCABAC
ABACBABCABACABACBACBAACBABCABACABACBACBAABCABCABACABACBABCABACABACBACB
AACBABCABACABACBACBAABCABCABACABACBABCAABCABACBACBAACBABCABACABACBACBA

Answer 2

For every item of the sequence, compute a (pseudo-)random number r equidistributed between 0 (inclusive) and 100 (exclusive).
If 0 ≤ r < 42, take A
If 42 ≤ r < (42+32), take B
If (42+32) ≤ r < (42+32+26)=100, take C

Answer 3

The number of each entry in your subset is going to be the same as in your map, but with a scaling factor applied.
The scaling factor is n/100.
So if n was 50, you would have { Ax21, Bx16, Cx13 }.
Randomize the order to your liking.

Answer 4

The simplest "deterministic" [in terms of #elements of each category] solution [IMO] will be: add elements in predefined order, and then shuffle the resulting list.
First, add map(x)/100 * n elements from each element x chose how you handle integer arithmetics to avoid off by one element], and then shuffle the resulting list.
Shuffling a list is simple with fisher-yates shuffle, which is implemented in most languages: for example java has Collections.shuffle(), and C++ has random_shuffle()
In java, it will be as simple as:
int N = 107;
List<String> res = new ArrayList<String>();
for (Entry<String,Integer> e : map.entrySet()) { //map is predefined Map<String,Integer> for frequencies
for (int i = 0; i < Math.round(e.getValue()/100.0 * N); i++) {
res.add(e.getKey());
}
}
Collections.shuffle(res);

Answer 5

This is nondeterministic, but gives a distribution of values close to MvG's. It suffers from the problem that it could give AAA right at the start. I post it here for completeness' sake given how it proves my dissent with MvG was misplaced (and I don't expect any upvotes).
Now, if someone has an idea for an expand function that is deterministic and won't just duplicate MvG's method (rendering the calc function useless), I'm all ears!
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"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">
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<head>
<title>ErikE's answer</title>
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<div id="output"></div>
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if (!Array.each) {
Array.prototype.each = function(callback) {
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if (!Array.prototype.sum) {
Array.prototype.sum = function() {
var sum = 0;
this.each(function(i, val) {
sum += val;
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function expand(counts) {
var
result = "",
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counts.each(function(i, val) {
char = String.fromCharCode(i + 65);
for ( ; val > 0; val -= 1) {
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for ( ; l > 0; l -= 1) {
index = Math.floor(Math.random() * l);
result += charlist[index];
charlist.splice(index, 1);
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return result;
}
function calc(n, proportions) {
var percents = [],
counts = [],
errors = [],
fnmap = [],
errorSum,
worstIndex;
fnmap[1] = "min";
fnmap[-1] = "max";
proportions.each(function(i, val) {
percents[i] = val / proportions.sum() * n;
counts[i] = Math.round(percents[i]);
errors[i] = counts[i] - percents[i];
});
errorSum = counts.sum() - n;
while (errorSum != 0) {
adjust = errorSum < 0 ? 1 : -1;
worstIndex = errors.indexOf(Math[fnmap[adjust]].apply(0, errors));
counts[worstIndex] += adjust;
errors[worstIndex] = counts[worstIndex] - percents[worstIndex];
errorSum += adjust;
}
return expand(counts);
}
document.body.onload = function() {
document.getElementById('output').innerHTML = calc(99, [25.1, 24.9, 25.9, 24.1]);
};
</script>
</body>
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