Distributing integers using weights? How to calculate?

Question

I need to distribute a value based on some weights. For example, if my weights are 1 and 2, then I would expect the column weighted as 2 to have twice the value as the colum

Answer 1

Distribute the first share as expected. Now you have a simpler problem, with one fewer participants, and a reduced amount available for distribution. Repeat until there are no more participants.

>>> def distribute2(available, weights):
...     distributed_amounts = []
...     total_weights = sum(weights)
...     for weight in weights:
...         weight = float(weight)
...         p = weight / total_weights
...         distributed_amount = round(p * available)
...         distributed_amounts.append(distributed_amount)
...         total_weights -= weight
...         available -= distributed_amount
...     return distributed_amounts
...
>>> for x in xrange(100):
...     d = distribute2(x, (1,2,3))
...     if x != sum(d):
...         print x, sum(d), d
...
>>>