Simulation, how many Panini packages have to be bought to get a full album.

panini.py

#!/usr/bin/python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
'''
Simulates how many packages of Panini pictures have to be bought to get a certain amount of pictures.

@author: Adrianus Kleemans
@date: 19.06.2013
'''

import random

TOTAL_PICS = 660
PICS_PER_PACKAGE = 5
SIMULATIONS_COUNT = 100

def buy_package():
    package = []
    while len(package) < PICS_PER_PACKAGE:
        new_pic = random.randint(1, TOTAL_PICS)
        if new_pic not in package: package.append(new_pic)
    return package

for wanted_pics in range(1, TOTAL_PICS+1):
    counts = []
    for _ in range(SIMULATIONS_COUNT):
        rounds = 0
        pictures = []
        # buy a package of 5 pics
        while len(pictures) < wanted_pics:
            rounds += 1
            for pic in buy_package():
                if pic not in pictures:
                    pictures.append(pic)
        counts.append(rounds)

    print wanted_pics, ";", sum(counts)/len(counts)