Rails - Jun 2006 - Quick Question: Random item from array

Well I think this is a quick question.  I would like to select a random 
item from an array.  I''m thinking maybe I need to generate a random 
number from 0 to array length.  Actually I''m not exactly sure how to do
this since I can''t seem to find math.random/math.floor on ruby api? 
Knowing ruby, there is probably a much easier way to do what I am trying 
to do.  Any ideas?  Thanks.

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Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.

On 6/17/06, Jordan Isip <jordanisip@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> Well I think this is a quick question.  I would like to select a random
> item from an array.
Kernel#rand is what you want (ri rand)
>> class Array
>> def random
>> at(rand(length))
>> end
>> end
=> nil
>> a = (0..10).to_a
=> [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
>> (0..10).map { a.random }
=> [5, 7, 7, 7, 1, 4, 3, 5, 8, 7, 8]
>> (0..10).map { a.random }
=> [5, 1, 5, 2, 2, 6, 6, 8, 3, 9, 9]
>> (0..10).map { a.random }
=> [2, 10, 2, 5, 5, 0, 9, 5, 10, 4, 5]

martin