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Random Sampling Without Replacement
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Random Sampling Without Replacement

MediumSQL · PostgreSQL

Problem

How would you randomly sample K elements from a list without replacement?

Use the provided randomized ordering value for each element. Return no more than the requested number of available elements for each request.

Output

  1. One row per selected element, with request_id, list_id, element_id, element_value, and sample_position.
  2. Include only selected available elements, ordered by request_id, then sample_position, then element_id.

Schema

sampling_requests
ColumnTypeDescription
request_idPKINTUnique sampling request identifier
list_idINTList to sample from
kINTMaximum number of elements to select
list_elements
ColumnTypeDescription
element_idPKINTUnique element identifier
list_idINTList containing the element
element_valueVARCHAR(100)Value associated with the element
random_keyDECIMAL(5,4)Randomized ordering value
is_availableBOOLEANWhether the element may be sampled
Tablessampling_requestslist_elements
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