How to do weighted random sample of categories in python

Question

Given a list of tuples where each tuple consists of a probability and an item I\'d like to sample an item according to its probability. For example, give the list [ (.3, \'a\'),

Answer 1

import numpy

n = 1000
pairs = [(.3, 'a'), (.3, 'b'), (.4, 'c')]
probabilities = numpy.random.multinomial(n, zip(*pairs)[0])
result = zip(probabilities, zip(*pairs)[1])
# [(299, 'a'), (299, 'b'), (402, 'c')]
[x[0] * x[1] for x in result]
# ['aaaaaaaaaa', 'bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb', 'cccccccccccccccccccc']

How exactly would you like to receive the results?