Categorizing Words and Category Values

Question

We were set an algorithm problem in class today, as a \"if you figure out a solution you don\'t have to do this subject\". SO of course, we all thought we will give it a go.

Answer 1

Really poor answer (demonstrates no "understanding") - but as a crazy stab you could hit google (through code) for (for example) "+Fishing +Sport", "+Fishing +Cooking" etc (i.e. cross join each word and category) - and let the google fight win! i.e. the combination with the most "hits" gets chosen...

For example (results first):

weather: fish
sport: ball
weather: hat
fashion: trousers
weather: snowball
weather: tornado

With code (TODO: add threading ;-p):

static void Main() {
    string[] words = { "fish", "ball", "hat", "trousers", "snowball","tornado" };
    string[] categories = { "sport", "fashion", "weather" };

    using(WebClient client = new WebClient()){
        foreach(string word in words) {
            var bestCategory = categories.OrderByDescending(
                cat => Rank(client, word, cat)).First();
            Console.WriteLine("{0}: {1}", bestCategory, word);
        }
    }
}

static int Rank(WebClient client, string word, string category) {
    string s = client.DownloadString("http://www.google.com/search?q=%2B" +
        Uri.EscapeDataString(word) + "+%2B" +
        Uri.EscapeDataString(category));
    var match = Regex.Match(s, @"of about \([0-9,]+)\");
    int rank = match.Success ? int.Parse(match.Groups[1].Value, NumberStyles.Any) : 0;
    Debug.WriteLine(string.Format("\t{0} / {1} : {2}", word, category, rank));
    return rank;
}