Generate number sequences with LINQ
- by tanascius
I try to write a LINQ statement which returns me all possible combinations of numbers (I need this for a test and I was inspired by this article of Eric Lippert). The method's prototype I call looks like:
IEnumerable<Collection<int>> AllSequences( int start, int end, int size );
The rules are:
all returned collections have a length of size
number values within a collection have to increase
every number between start and end should be used
So calling the AllSequences( 1, 5, 3 ) should result in 10 collections, each of size 3:
1 2 3
1 2 4
1 2 5
1 3 4
1 3 5
1 4 5
2 3 4
2 3 5
2 4 5
3 4 5
Now, somehow I'd really like to see a pure LINQ solution. I am able to write a non LINQ solution on my own, so please put no effort into a solution without LINQ.
My tries so far ended at a point where I have to join a number with the result of a recursive call of my method - something like:
return from i in Enumerable.Range( start, end - size + 1 )
select BuildCollection(i, AllSequences( i, end, size -1));
But I can't manage it to implement BuildCollection() on a LINQ base - or even skip this method call. Can you help me here?
