How do I select a random row from the database based on the probability chance assigned to each row.
Example:
Make Chance Value
ALFA ROMEO 0.0024 20000
AUDI 0.0338 35000
BMW 0.0376 40000
CHEVROLET 0.0087 15000
CITROEN 0.016 15000
........
How do I select random make name and its value based on the probability it has to be chosen.
Would a combination of rand()
and ORDER BY
work? If so what is the best way to do this?
You can do this by using rand()
and then using a cumulative sum. Assuming they add up to 100%:
select t.*
from (select t.*, (@cumep := @cumep + chance) as cumep
from t cross join
(select @cumep := 0, @r := rand()) params
) t
where @r between cumep - chance and cumep
limit 1;
Notes:
rand()
is called once in a subquery to initialize a variable. Multiple calls to rand()
are not desirable.limit 1
arbitrarily chooses 1.cumep > @r
.