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282

answers:

1

I know I can do X is random(10). to get a random number from 0 to 10, but is there a similar command to get a random matching item?

A: 

You can implement it. Here is a version:

%% choose(List, Elt) - chooses a random element
%% in List and unifies it with Elt.
choose([], []).
choose(List, Elt) :-
        length(List, Length),
        random(0, Length, Index),
        nth0(Index, List, Elt).

From http://ozone.wordpress.com/2006/02/22/little-prolog-challenge/

Juanjo Conti
Whoa there, the first clause of choose/2 isn't what you want. If the list it empty you should produce no solutions instead of unifying Elt with the empty list. "choose([],_) :- !, fail." would fix it.Also, this generates an infinite number of solutions which is usually undesirable.
rndmcnlly