Develop Reference

Powers of 3 for a given a positive integer A

Given a positive integer A, return an array of minimum length whose elements are powers of 3 and have the sum of all the elements equal to A.
For input A = 13:
30 = 1, 31 = 3, 32 = 9.
1 + 3 + 9 = 13.
So A = 13 can be represented as the sum of 1, 3 and 9.
Is there a better way to solve this problem?
public static int[] getSolve(int A) {
List<Integer> binary = new ArrayList<>();
while (A > 0) {
int r = A % 3;
binary.add(r);
A /= 3;
}
// System.out.println(binary.toString());
List<Integer> res = new ArrayList<>();
int j = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < binary.size(); i++) {
if (binary.get(i) != 0) {
while (j < binary.get(i)) {
res.add((int) Math.pow(3, i));
j++;
}
j =0;
}
}
return res.stream().mapToInt(i -> i).toArray();
}

The answer to this question is always the base 3 representation, which is also known as ternary.
My biggest suggestion is that there is no need for your binary data structure. As you are finding the remainders, right there and then you can see whether the remainder is and add the appropriate powers of 3 to your answer.

For python folks, it can be useful
class Solution:
# #param A : integer
# #return a list of integers
def solve(self, A):
bits = []
solution = []
while(A != 0):
bits.append(A % 3);
A = A // 3;
for i in range(len(bits)):
if(bits[i] != 0):
tmp = 0;
while(tmp < bits[i]):
solution.append(pow(3, i));
tmp = tmp + 1
return solution

Largest number in k swaps

Given a number K and string str of digits denoting a positive integer, build the largest number possible by performing swap operations on the digits of str at most K times.
Example 1:
Input:
K = 4
str = "1234567"
Output:
7654321
Explanation:
Three swaps can make the
input 1234567 to 7654321, swapping 1
with 7, 2 with 6 and finally 3 with 5
I am trying to solve it using two loops. For every index i, I am finding the largest integer between (i+1)th index to (N-1)th index, where N is the size of string. If the largest number is greater than arr[i], then swap it. Below is the code I have written.
public static String findMaximumNum(String str, int k) {
int N = str.length();
int[] arr = new int[N];
for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) {
arr[i] = Integer.valueOf(str.charAt(i) + "");
}
int swaps = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < N - 1; i++) {
if(swaps == k)
break;
int maxIndex = findMaxInRange(arr, i + 1, N - 1);
if (arr[i] < arr[maxIndex]) {
swap(arr, i, maxIndex);
swaps++;
}
}
String out = "";
for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) {
out = out + arr[i] + "";
}
return out;
}
private static int findMaxInRange(int[] arr, int i, int j) {
int max = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
int maxIndex = i;
for (int k = i; k <= j; k++) {
if (arr[k] >= max) {
max = arr[k];
maxIndex = k;
}
}
return maxIndex;
}
private static void swap(int[] arr, int i, int j) {
System.out.println("swapping "+arr[i]+" and "+arr[j]+" from "+Arrays.toString(arr));
int ch = arr[i];
arr[i] = arr[j];
arr[j] = ch;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(findMaximumNum("61892795431", 4));
}
It is failing for few test cases. One of the test cases where it is failing is
Input:
4
61892795431
Its Correct output is:
99876215431
And MyCode's output is:
99876125431
I am not able to figure out how the output is '99876215431' and what is wrong in my approach. Please help me understand. Thanks a lot in advance :)

The basic steps how to solve this problem:
0. cast string to array of integers
make a loop K times
in this loop go from i+1 (LOOP VAR) to end of a collection and search for higher value
when we find higher value then collection[i], we will remember its value and index on witch it is. Important thing to note is that we want to swap biggest number but i also has to be last possible number.
at the end of iteration we swap the elements (i with best index)
we are done so all its left is convert our int list back to string.
code: (its python because java is pain)
def sort(swaps, string):
l = list(map(int, list(string)))
print(l)
for i in range(swaps):
best = l[i] + 1
bestIndex = i
for j in range(i+1, len(l)):
if best <= l[j]:
best = l[j]
bestIndex = j
print(i, bestIndex)
l[i], l[bestIndex] = l[bestIndex], l[i]
return "".join(map(str, l))
print(sort(4, "61892795431"))

Your code is correct. The problem comes from the parameter 4 (max number of swaps). If you use 10, the sorting is completed successfully.
Maybe the deeper problems comes from the fact that you are comparing the swaps of your algorithm with the swaps that you would do efficiently to sort the numbers. Your algorithm may work but probably it is not the most efficient, so the number of swaps needed is above the optimum.

Java sorting array positive ascending to negative ascending

I can't solve the problem , where I need output from array A like {1,2,3,4,-1,-2,-3,-4}
from random numbers in array, then write it to another array B. So far my experimental code doesn't work as I'd
public static void main(String[] args) {
int a[] = {5,4,3,2,1,-3,-2,-30};
int length = a.length - 1;
for (int i = 0 ; i < length ; i++) {
for (int j = 0 ; j < length-i ; j++) {
if (a[j] < a[j+1]) {
int swap = a[j];
a[j] = a[j+1];
a[j+1] = swap;
}
}
}
for (int x : a) {
System.out.print(x+" ");
}
}
Output is 5 4 3 2 1 -2 -3 -30 , but I need 1,2,3,4,5,-2,-3,-30
Update:
public static void main(String[] args) {
int a[] = {5,4,3,2,1,-3,-2,-30,-1,-15,8};
int length = a.length - 1;
for (int i = 0 ; i < length ; i++) {
for (int j = 0 ; j < length-i ; j++) {
if (a[j] < a[j+1]) {
int swap = a[j];
a[j] = a[j+1];
a[j+1] = swap;
} else {
if (a[j] > a[j+1] && a[j+1] > 0) {
int swap = a[j];
a[j] = a[j+1];
a[j+1] = swap;
}
}
}
}
for (int x : a) {
System.out.print(x+" ");
}
}
I got closer to my target but 8 1 2 3 4 5 -1 -2 -3 -15 -30 , that number 8 ruins it all

Add an if-else to differentiate the positive and negative case.
if (a[j] < 0) {
if (a[j] < a[j+1]) {
int swap = a[j];
a[j] = a[j+1];
a[j+1] = swap;
}
} else {
if (a[j] > a[j+1] && a[j+1] > 0) {
int swap = a[j];
a[j] = a[j+1];
a[j+1] = swap;
}
}

If I understand you correctly you want to sort after two things. Positive numbers from low to high and negative numbers from high to low.
You could first sort from high to low and in a second run over the array skip all positives and then sort from high to low.
Does this help?
I could write some code, but I believe that's something you want to learn right now :)

Algo:
Traverse the Array and Store positives in one and Negatives in another. O(i)
Sort the positives array in ascending order. O(mLog(m))
Sort the negatives indescending order. O(nLog(n))
Create a final array of the size of the input.
Add all the positive array sorted values. Then add the negative array sorted values. O(i)
Total : O(i) + O(mLog(m)) + O(nLog(n)) + O(i) = O(mLog(m)) if m > n

I have used library functions here. But if you want you can the write the functions using the same idea.
public class PostivieAsendingNegativeDesending implements Comparator<Integer> {
public static void main(String args[]) {
int fullList[] = {5, 4, 3, 2, 1, -3, -2, -30};
ArrayList<Integer> subList = new ArrayList<>();
ArrayList<Integer> subList2 = new ArrayList<>();
for (int i = 0; i < fullList.length; i++) {
if (fullList[i] < 0) {
subList2.add((fullList[i]));
} else {
subList.add(fullList[i]);
}
}
Collections.sort(subList);
Collections.sort(subList2, new PostivieAsendingNegativeDesending());
subList.addAll(subList2);
for (int i = 0; i < subList.size(); i++) {
System.out.print(subList.get(i) + " ");
}
System.out.println("");
}
#Override
public int compare(Integer n1, Integer n2) {
return n2 - n1;
}
}

This will do the trick which uses only basic loops
public static void main(String[] args) {
int a[] = { 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, -3, -2, -30 };
int length = a.length - 1;
int pos = 0, neg = 0;
// find total count of positive and negative numbers
for (int i = 0; i <= length; i++) {
if (a[i] < 0)
neg++;
else
pos++;
}
// initialize the arrays based on 'pos' and 'neg'
int posArr[] = new int[pos];
int negArr[] = new int[neg];
// store pos and neg values in the arrays
int countPos = 0, countNeg = 0;
for (int i = 0; i <= length; i++) {
if (a[i] < 0) {
negArr[countNeg] = a[i];
countNeg++;
} else {
posArr[countPos] = a[i];
countPos++;
}
}
// sort positive numbers
for (int i = 0; i < posArr.length - 1; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < posArr.length - 1 - i; j++) {
if (posArr[j] > posArr[j + 1]) {
int swap = posArr[j];
posArr[j] = posArr[j + 1];
posArr[j + 1] = swap;
}
}
}
// sort negative numbers
for (int i = 0; i < negArr.length - 1; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < negArr.length - 1 - i; j++) {
if (negArr[j] < negArr[j + 1]) {
int swap = negArr[j];
negArr[j] = negArr[j + 1];
negArr[j + 1] = swap;
}
}
}
// 1. print out posArr[] and then negArr[]
// or
// 2. merge them into another array and print
}
Logic is explained below :
Find total count of positive and negative numbers.
Create and store the positive and negative values in the respective arrays.
Sort positive array in ascending order.
Sort negative array in descending order.
Print out positive array followed by the negative array OR merge them into another and print.

I suggest another approach. You should try to formulate the rules to which the exact comparison must adhere.
Your requirement seem to have the following rules:
Positive numbers always come before negative numbers.
Positive numbers are ordered in ascending order.
Negative numbers are ordered in descending order. Yes, I said descending. Since higher numbers come before lower numbers, i.e. −2 is greater than −7.
Warning: you are using a nested for loop, which means that the process time will grow exponentially if the array becomes larger. The good news is: you don't need to nest a for loop into another for loop. I suggest writing a Comparator instead:
// The contract of Comparator's only method 'compare(i, j)' is that you
// return a negative value if i < j, a positive (nonzero) value if i > j and
// 0 if they are equal.
final Comparator<Integer> c = (i, j) -> { // I'm using a lambda expression,
// see footnote
// If i is positive and j is negative, then i must come first
if (i >= 0 && j < 0) {
return -1;
}
// If i is negative and j is positive, then j must come first
else if (i < 0 && j >= 0) {
return 1;
}
// Else, we can just subtract i from j or j from i, depending of whether
// i is negative or positive
else {
return (i < 0 ? j - i : i - j);
}
}
Your code could look like this:
int[] a = { 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, -3, -2, -30 };
int[] yourSortedIntArray = Arrays.stream(a)
.boxed()
.sorted(c) // Your Comparator, could also added inline, like
// .sorted((i, j) -> { ... })
.mapToInt(i -> i)
.toArray();
Lambda expressions are a new concept from Java 8. The Java Tutorials provide some valuable information.

Find all combinations in an array

I'm developing a game in Android Studio using Java, and I have some troubles with the method that does the counting of the score. Basically in the game I have an array of dices that have values from 1 to 6. Among these values I need to find how many times a special value appears.
Right now I have a method that makes it work fine for finding all single values (like all dices that have the value 5), and also if two dices add up to the special value (like 2 + 3, or 1 + 4). But it doesn't find the special value when there's more than two dices adding up to the number (like 1 + 1 + 3)
Example: If I have the dices with values [1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 5]
The result should be three "numberOfPairs" (1+2+2, 2+3, 5) and therefore the method should return 15, but for me it only returns 10.
I would really appreciate some ideas how to change this method to work better.
Here's the method I've been working on now:
public static int evaluatePoints(Dice dices[], int sumToReach) {
int values[] = new int[dices.length];
int numberOfPairs = 0;
int left = 0;
int right = values.length - 1;
for(int i = 0; i < dices.length; i++){
values[i] = dices[i].getValue();
if(values[i] == sumToReach){
numberOfPairs++;
values[i] = 0;
}
}
Arrays.sort(values);
while (values[right] > sumToReach + values[0]) {
right--;
}
while (left < right) {
if (values[left] + values[right] == sumToReach) {
numberOfPairs++;
left++;
right--;
}
else if(values[left] + values[right] < sumToReach) {
left++;
}
else right--;
}
return numberOfPairs*sumToReach;
}

Your question can be paraphrased as "Get all possible number representations as sum of other natural numbers". Here is pretty good solution.

Explanation of the Algorithm:
Suppose the input array is [1 2 2 2 3 5]
First the program will search for grpSize 6 i.e. 6 elements that sum upto sum of 5
Then the program will search for grpSize 5 i.e. 5 elements that sum upto sum of 5
.
.
.
then the program will search for grpSize 1 i.e. 1 element that sums upto sum of 5
If a set is found then elements will be removed from the resultList
Warning: This approach is recursive, may lead to stack overflow if number of dice increases manyfold
public static boolean func(int grpSize,int sum,int index,List<Integer> resultList,ArrayList<Integer> values) {
if(grpSize==1) {
int j;
for(j = index; j < resultList.size(); j++) {
if(resultList.get(j) == sum) {
values.add(resultList.get(j));
resultList.remove(j);
return true;
}
}
}
for(; index < resultList.size(); index++) {
if(func(grpSize-1, sum-resultList.get(index), index+1, resultList, values)) {
values.add(resultList.get(index));
resultList.remove(index);
return true;
}
}
return false;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
List<Integer> resultList = new ArrayList<>();
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> values = new ArrayList<>();
resultList.add(1);
resultList.add(2);
resultList.add(2);
resultList.add(2);
resultList.add(3);
resultList.add(5);
//3 2 2 2 3 5
int sum = 5;
int n = resultList.size();
for(int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
int k=i;
while(true) {
values.add(new ArrayList<>());
func(n-i, sum, 0, resultList, values.get(values.size() - 1));
if(values.get(k).isEmpty()) {
break;
} else {
k++;
}
}
}
values.removeIf(p -> p.isEmpty());
System.out.println("Number of pairs: "+values.size());
values.forEach((it) -> {
System.out.println(it);
});
int temp = 0;
for(int i = 0; i < values.size(); i++) {
for(int j = 0; j < values.get(i).size(); j++) {
temp += values.get(i).get(j);
}
}
System.out.println("sum: "+temp);
}
}
Working of recursive function:
This function requires
Group Size to search for
The sum to search for
The starting index which is always zero(could(should) be cleaned up)
The list of each die roll
The list to add found values
This is boolean function which will return true if a particular set if found to add up to THE SUM. The concept is that of basic Backtracking

Efficient way to count unique pairs in int array

This is my first post, hope it complies with posting guidelines of the site.
First of all a generic thanks to all the community: reading you from some months and learned a lot :o)
Premise: I'm a first years student of IT.
Here's the question: I'm looking for an efficient way to count the number of unique pairs (numbers that appear exactly twice) in a given positive int array (that's all I know), e.g. if:
int[] arr = {1,4,7,1,5,7,4,1,5};
the number of unique pairs in arr is 3 (4,5,7).
I have some difficulties in... evaluating the efficiency of my proposals let's say.
Here's the first code I did:
int numCouples( int[] v ) {
int res = 0;
int count = 0;
for (int i = 0 ; i < v.length; i++){
count = 0;
for (int j = 0; j < v.length; j++){
if (i != j && v[i] == v[j]){
count++;
}
}
if (count == 1){
res++;
}
}
return res/2;
}
This shoudn't be good cause it checks the whole given array as many times as the number of elements in the given array... correct me if I'm wrong.
This is my second code:
int numCouples( int[] v) {
int n = 0;
int res = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < v.length; i++){
if (v[i] > n){
n = v[i];
}
}
int[] a = new int [n];
for (int i = 0; i < v.length; i++){
a[v[i]-1]++;
}
for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++){
if (a[i] == 2){
res++;
}
}
return res;
}
I guess this should be better than the first one since it checks only 2 times the given array and 1 time the n array, when n is the max value of the given array. May be not so good if n is quite big I guess...
Well, 2 questions:
am I understanding good how to "measure" the efficiency of the code?
there's a better way to count the number of unique pairs in a given array?
EDIT:
Damn I've just posted and I'm already swamped by answers! Thanks! I'll study each one with care, for the time being I say I don't get those involving HashMap: out of my knowledge yet (hence thanks again for the insight:o) )

public static void main(String[] args) {
int[] arr = { 1, 4, 7, 1, 5, 7, 4, 1, 5 };
Map<Integer, Integer> map = new HashMap<Integer, Integer>();
for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
Integer count = map.get(arr[i]);
if (count == null)
map.put(arr[i], 1);
else
map.put(arr[i], count + 1);
}
int uniqueCount = 0;
for (Integer i : map.values())
if (i == 2)
uniqueCount++;
System.out.println(uniqueCount);
}

Well, here's another answer to your's 2 questions:
am I understanding good how to "measure" the efficiency of the code?
There are various ways to measure efficiency of the code. First of all, people distinguish between memory efficiency and time efficiency. The usual way to count all these values is to know, how efficient are the building blocks of your algorithm. Have a look at the wiki.
For instance, sorting using quicksort would need n*log(n) operations. Iterating through the array would need just n operations, where n is number of elements in the input.
there's a better way to count the number of unique pairs in a given array?
Here's another solution for you. The complixity of this one would be: O(n*log(n)+n), where O(...) is Big O notation.
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Ctest {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int[] a = new int[] { 1, 4, 7, 1, 7, 4, 1, 5, 5, 8 };
System.out.println("RES: " + uniquePairs(a));
}
public static int uniquePairs(int[] a) {
Arrays.sort(a);
// now we have: [1, 1, 1, 4, 4, 5, 5, 7, 7]
int res = 0;
int len = a.length;
int i = 0;
while (i < len) {
// take first number
int num = a[i];
int c = 1;
i++;
// count all duplicates
while(i < len && a[i] == num) {
c++;
i++;
}
System.out.println("Number: " + num + "\tCount: "+c);
// if we spotted number just 2 times, increment result
if (c == 2) {
res++;
}
}
return res;
}
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
int[] arr = {1,4,7,1,7,4,1,5};
Map<Integer, Integer> counts = new HashMap<Integer,Integer>();
int count = 0;
for(Integer num:arr){
Integer entry = counts.get(num);
if(entry == null){
counts.put(num, 1);
}else if(counts.get(num) == 1){
count++;
counts.put(num, counts.get(num) + 1);
}
}
System.out.println(count);
}

int [] a = new int [] {1, 4, 7, 1, 7, 4, 1, 5, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1};
Arrays.sort (a);
int res = 0;
for (int l = a.length, i = 0; i < l - 1; i++)
{
int v = a [i];
int j = i + 1;
while (j < l && a [j] == v) j += 1;
if (j == i + 2) res += 1;
i = j - 1;
}
return res;

you can use HashMap for easy grouping. here is my code.
int[] arr = {1,1,1,1,1,1,4,7,1,7,4,1,5};
HashMap<Integer,Integer> asd = new HashMap<Integer, Integer>();
for(int i=0;i<arr.length;i++)
{
if(asd.get(arr[i]) == null)
{
asd.put(arr[i], 1);
}
else
{
asd.put(arr[i], asd.get(arr[i])+1);
}
}
//print out
for(int key:asd.keySet())
{
//get pair
int temp = asd.get(key)/2;
System.out.println(key+" have : "+temp+" pair");
}
added for checking the unique pair, you can delete the print out one
//unique pair
for(int key:asd.keySet())
{
if(asd.get(key) == 2)
{
System.out.println(key+" are a unique pair");
}
}

after some time another solution, which should work great.
public getCouplesCount(int [] arr) {
int i = 0, i2;
int len = arr.length;
int num = 0;
int curr;
int lastchecked = -1;
while (i < len-1) {
curr = arr[i];
i2 = i + 1;
while (i2 < len) {
if (curr == arr[i2] && arr[i2] != lastchecked) {
num++; // add 1 to number of pairs
lastchecked = curr;
i2++; // iterate to next
} else if (arr[i2] == lastchecked) {
// more than twice - swap last and update counter
if (curr == lastchecked) {
num--;
}
// swap with last
arr[i2] = arr[len-1];
len--;
} else {
i2++;
}
i++;
}
return num;
}
i am not shure if it works, but it is more effective than sorting the array first, or using hashmaps....

A Java8 parallel streamy version which uses a ConcurrentHashMap
int[] arr = {1,4,7,1,5,7,4,1,5};
Map<Integer,Long> map=Arrays.stream(arr).parallel().boxed().collect(Collectors.groupingBy(Function.identity(),
ConcurrentHashMap::new,Collectors.counting()));
map.values().removeIf(v->v!=2);
System.out.println(map.keySet().size());

#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
ios_base::sync_with_stdio(false);
cin.tie(NULL);
int arr[9] = {1,4,7,1,5,7,4,1,5}; // given array
int length=9; // this should be given
int count=0;
map<int,int> m;
for(int i=0;i<length;i++)
m[arr[i]]++;
cout<<"List of unique pairs : ";
for(auto it=m.begin();it!=m.end();it++)
if(it->second==2)
{
count++;
cout<<it->first<<" ";
}
cout<<"\nCount of unique pairs(appears exactly twice) : "<<count;
return 0;
}
OUTPUT :
List of unique pairs : 4 5 7
Count of unique pairs(appears exactly twice) : 3
Time Complexity : O(N) where N is the number of elements in array
Space Complexity : O(N) total no. of unique elements in array always <=N

var sampleArray = ['A','B','C','D','e','f','g'];
var count = 0;
for(var i=0; i<=sampleArray.length; i++) {
for(var j=i+1; j<sampleArray.length; j++) {
count++;
console.log(sampleArray[i] , sampleArray[j]);
}
}
console.log(count);
This is the simple way I tried.