Develop Reference

How do you only order odd numbers in an int array and leave even numbers in their original position?

Basically, there is this challenge online where you have to order the odd numbers in an array in ascending order, while also ignoring the even numbers. So for example, [3,1,4,2,3,6] would be -> [1,3,4,2,3,6]. I've written an algorithm to sort the numbers, but the output is wrong.
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Kata {
public static int[] sortArray(int[] array) {
int n;
int temp = 0;
if (array.length < 2){
System.out.println(Arrays.toString(array));
return array;
}
for (n = 1; n < array.length; n++) { // iterates through array
if (array[n] % 2 != 0 && array[n] > array[n-1] && array[n-1] % 2 != 0){ // if n is odd and smaller than n-1 and n-1 is odd
temp = array[n];
array[n] = array[n-1];
array[n-1] = temp;
}
else if (array[n] % 2 == 0 && array[n] < array[n-1]){
array[n] = array[n];
}
else if (array[n] % 2 != 0 && array[n] > array[n-1]){
array[n] = array[n];
}
}
System.out.println(Arrays.toString(array));
return array;
}
}
Driver code
public class Driver {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Kata.sortArray(new int[]{3,1,11,2,9});
}
}
for the array above, the output should be: [1,3,9,2,11] but instead it's [3, 11, 1, 2, 9]. I've been staring at this for ages and I'm stumped, honestly. Thanks a lot for reading!

I used an inner loop to find the next odd number to sort. And I used an additional outer loop because normally sorting needs two loops.
import java.util.Arrays;
public class Kata {
public static int[] sortArray(int[] array) {
int i;
int n;
int m;
int temp = 0;
if (array.length < 2) {
System.out.println(Arrays.toString(array));
return array;
}
for (i = 0; i < array.length; i++) {
for (n = 0; n < array.length; n++) {
if (array[n] % 2 != 0) {
for (m = n + 1; m < array.length; m++) {
if (array[m] % 2 != 0) {
if (array[n] > array[m]) {
temp = array[n];
array[n] = array[m];
array[m] = temp;
}
break;
}
}
}
}
}
System.out.println(Arrays.toString(array));
return array;
}
}

Two Sum II - Input array is sorted

Leetcode #167 is almost same as #1, but why I cannot only add a if condition?
Q: Given an array of integers that is already sorted in ascending order, find two numbers such that they add up to a specific target number.
The function twoSum should return indices of the two numbers such that they add up to the target, where index1 must be less than index2.
Note:
Your returned answers (both index1 and index2) are not zero-based.
You may assume that each input would have exactly one solution and you may not use the same element twice.
Example:
Input: numbers = [2,7,11,15], target = 9
Output: [1,2]
The sum of 2 and 7 is 9.
Therefore index1 = 1, index2 = 2.
My code:
class Solution {
public int[] twoSum(int[] numbers, int target) {
for (int i = 1; i < numbers.length; i++) {
for (int j = i + 1; j < numbers.length; j++) {
if (numbers[j] == target - numbers[i]) {
if(numbers[i] < numbers[j])
return new int[] { i, j };
}
}
}
return null;
}
}
Why I always return null? where is my mistake? How to fix it?

Because the question says array starts from 1 does not mean array starts from 1 in java.If you want to return i,j as non-zero you should go from 1 to length+1 and then inside the conditions you should check indexes as i-1,j-1 or just start from 0 and return i+1,j+1.
class Solution {
public int[] twoSum(int[] numbers, int target) {
for (int i = 1; i < numbers.length+1; i++) {
for (int j = i + 1; j < numbers.length+1; j++) {
if (numbers[j-1] == target - numbers[i-1]) {
if(numbers[i-1] < numbers[j-1])
return new int[] { i, j };
}
}
}
return null;
}
}
or you can do,
class Solution {
public int[] twoSum(int[] numbers, int target) {
for (int i = 0; i < numbers.length; i++) {
for (int j = i + 1; j < numbers.length; j++) {
if (numbers[j] == target - numbers[i]) {
if(numbers[i] < numbers[j])
return new int[] { i+1, j+1 };
}
}
}
return null;
}
}

https://leetcode.com/problems/two-sum-ii-input-array-is-sorted/
[question]: 167. Two Sum II - Input array is sorted
Using the two-pointer technique:-
class Solution {
public int[] twoSum(int[] numbers, int target) {
if (numbers == null || numbers.length == 0)
return null;
int i = 0;
int j = numbers.length - 1;
while (i < j) {
int x = numbers[i] + numbers[j];
if (x < target) {
++i;
} else if (x > target) {
j--;
} else {
return new int[] { i + 1, j + 1 };
}
}
return null;
}
}

I have modified your code and added code comments on why your previous code has errors. Refer to code below for details.
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int target = 9;
int[] numbers = new int[] { 2, 7, 11, 15 };
int[] result = twoSum(numbers, target);
if (result != null) {
System.out
.println("The sum of " + numbers[result[0]] + " and " + numbers[result[1]] + " is " + target + ".");
System.out.println("Therefore index1 = " + (result[0] + 1) + ", index2 = " + (result[1] + 1));
} else {
System.out.println("No Solution found!");
}
}
public static int[] twoSum(int[] numbers, int target) {
for (int i = 0; i < numbers.length; i++) { // array index starts at 0
for (int j = i + 1; j < numbers.length; j++) {
if (numbers[j] + numbers[i] == target) { // add the current numbers
// if (numbers[i] < numbers[j]) // not needed
return new int[] { i, j };
}
}
}
return null;
}
}
Sample input:
numbers = [2, 7, 11, 15];
Sample output:
The sum of 2 and 7 is 9.
Therefore index1 = 1, index2 = 2

You are starting first for-loop with i = 0, what you should do is start it with i = 1.
Working code:
public class Solution
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
int[] num = {2,7,11,5};
int n = 13;
int[] answer = new int[2];
answer = twoSum(num,n);
if(answer != null)
for(int i=0;i<2;i++)
System.out.printf( answer[i] +" ");
}
public static int[] twoSum(int[] numbers, int target)
{
for (int i = 0; i < numbers.length; i++)
{
for (int j = i + 1; j < numbers.length; j++)
{
if (numbers[j] == target - numbers[i])
{
if(numbers[i] < numbers[j])
return new int[] { i+1, j+1};
}
}
}
return null;
}
}
Note: I have placed an IF before FOR in main() so that if we find no such integers that adds up to give target integer, it'll not throw a NullPointerException.

This is a better solution as it's much faster and covers all test cases as well:
class Solution {
public int[] twoSum(int[] numbers, int target) {
int l = 0, r = numbers.length - 1;
while (numbers[l] + numbers[r] != target) {
if (numbers[l] + numbers[r] > target)
r--;
else
l++;
if (r == l) return new int[]{};
}
return new int[]{l + 1, r + 1};
}
}

public int[] twoSum(int[] nums, int target) {
int start = 0, end = nums.length -1;
while (start < end){
if (nums[start]+ nums[end]== target)
return new int []{start+1, end+1};
if (nums[start]+ nums[end]> target){
end--;}
else if (nums[start]+ nums[end]< target){
start++;
}
}
return null;
}

Moving all non-zero integers to the beginning of an array

I am trying to move all non-zero integers to the beginning/left-side of the array 'a.'(for example {0,0,4,3,0} becomes {4,3,0,0,0})
This is my program. It compiles and runs with no errors but the array ends up with only zeros. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
int[] squeezeLeft(int[] a) {
int count = 0;
//creates new array
int [] a2 = new int[a.length];
//loops through a
for (int i = 0; i< a.length; i++){
//gets a temporary value from a[i]
int temp = a[i];
//assigns a[i] to temporary variable
a[count] = temp;
a[i] = 0;
/* raises count integer by one, so the following indice which is zero, is replaced
by the following non=zero integer*/
count++;
}
return a2;
}

I know this is not very efficient solution O^2 but it will do what you are asking.
private static int[] sequeezeLeft(final int[] a) {
for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++) {
if (a[i] != 0) {
for (int j = 0; j < a.length; j++) {
if (a[j] == 0) {
a[j] = a[i];
a[i] = 0;
}
}
}
}
return a;
}
Another version with O(n) time complexity
private static int[] sqeeze2(int [] a){
int index = 0;
if(a.length == 0)
return a;
for(int i=0;i<a.length;i++){
if(a[i] !=0 && index < a.length){
a[index] = a[i];
a[i]=0;
index++;
}
}
return a;
}

Or if you are a bit lazy, what about using this?
Integer[] ints = new Integer[] { 0, 5, 2, 0, 1, 5, 6 };
List<Integer> list = Arrays.asList(ints);
Collections.sort(list);
Collections.reverse(list);
System.err.println(list); // prints [6, 5, 5, 2, 1, 0, 0]
Not sure about performance, though..

static void squeezeLeft(int[] array) {
int arrayIndex = 0;
if (array.length != 0) {//check the length of array whether it is zero or not
for (int i = 0; i < array.length; i++) {
if (array[i] != 0 && arrayIndex < array.length) {//check the non zero element of array
if (i != arrayIndex) {//if the index of non zero element not equal to array index
//only then swap the zero element and non zero element
array[arrayIndex] = array[i];
array[i] = 0;
}
arrayIndex++; //increase array index after finding non zero element
}
}
}
}

how about:
Arrays.sort(ints, new Comparator<Integer>() {
#Override
public int compare(Integer o1, Integer o2)
{
if (o1 == 0) return 1;
if (o2 != 0 && o1 > o2) return 1;
if (o2 != 0 && o1 == o2) return 0;
return -1;
}
});

As is for input 1,0,2,0,4,0,5,0,6,0 the second solution will fail as output will be:
0245600000
For o(n):
private static int[] reArrangeNonZeroElement(int arr[]) {
int count = 0;
if (arr.length == 0)
return arr;
for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
if (arr[i] != 0) {
arr[count++] = arr[i];
}
}
for (; arr.length > count; ) {
arr[count++] = 0;
}
return arr;
}

min n-m so that whole array will be sorted

I was asked the below question in an interview:
Given an array of integers, write a method to find indices m and n such that
if you sorted elements m through n, the entire array would be sorted. Minimize
n-m. i.e. find smallest sequence.
find my answer below and please do comment on the solution. Thanks!!!

At last I have got a solution to the problem, please feel free to comment.
Lets take an example:
int a[] = {1,3,4,6,10,6,16,12,13,15,16,19,20,22,25}
Now if i will put this in to the graph (X-coordinate -> array index and Y-coordinate -> array's value) then the graph will look like as below:
Now if we see the graph there are two places where dip happens one is after 10 and another after 16. Now in the zig zag portion if we see the min value is 6 and max val is 16. So the portion which we should sort to make the whole array sorted is between (6,16). Please refer to the below image:
Now we can easily divide the array in to three part. And middle part the one which we want to sort so that the whole array will be sorted. Please provide your valuable inputs. I tried to explain to my label best, please let me know if i want to explain more. Waiting for valuable inputs.
The below code implements the above logic:
public void getMN(int[] a)
{
int min = Integer.MAX_VALUE; int max = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
for(int i=1; i<a.length; i++)
{
if(a[i]<a[i-1])
{
if(a[i-1] > max)
{
max = a[i-1];
}
if(a[i] < min)
{
min = a[i];
}
}
}
if(max == Integer.MIN_VALUE){System.out.println("Array already sorted!!!");}
int m =-1, n =-1;
for(int i=0; i<a.length; i++)
{
if(a[i]<=min)
{
m++;
}
else
{
m++;
break;
}
}
for(int i=a.length-1; i>=0; i--)
{
if(a[i]>=max)
{
n++;
}
else
{
n++;
break;
}
}
System.out.println(m +" : "+(a.length-1-n));
System.out.println(min +" : "+max);
}

It's easier to find the max value starting from the end of array:
public void FindMinSequenceToSort(int[] arr)
{
if(arr == null || arr.length == 0) return;
int m = 0, min = findMinVal(arr);
int n = arr.length - 1, max = findMaxVal(arr);
while(arr[m] < min)
{
m ++;
}
while(arr[n] > max)
{
n --;
}
System.out.println(m);
System.out.println(n);
}
private int findMinVal(int[] arr)
{
int min = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
for(int i = 1; i < arr.length; i++)
{
if(arr[i] < arr[i-1] && arr[i] < min)
{
min = arr[i];
}
}
return min;
}
private int findMaxVal(int[] arr)
{
int max = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
for(int i = arr.length - 2; i >= 0; i--)
{
if(arr[i] >= arr[i+1] && arr[i] > max)
{
max = arr[i];
}
}
return max;
}

Actually, I came up with something like that:
public static void sortMthroughN(int[] a)
{
int m = -1;
int n = -1;
int k = -1;
int l = -1;
int biggest;
int smallest;
// Loop through to find the start of the unsorted array.
for(int i = 0; i < a.length-1; i++)
if(a[i] > a[i+1]) {
m = i;
break;
}
// Loop back through to find the end of the unsorted array.
for(int i = a.length-2; i > 0; i--)
if(a[i] > a[i+1]) {
n = i;
break;
}
biggest = smallest = a[m];
// Find the biggest and the smallest integers in the unsorted array.
for(int i = m+1; i < n+1; i++) {
if(a[i] < smallest)
smallest = a[i];
if(a[i] > biggest)
biggest = a[i];
}
// Now, let's find the right places of the biggest and smallest integers.
for(int i = n; i < a.length-1; i++)
if(a[i+1] >= biggest) {
k = i+1; //1
break;
}
for(int i = m; i > 0; i--)
if(a[i-1] <= smallest) {
l = i-1; //2
break;
}
// After finding the right places of the biggest and the smallest integers
// in the unsorted array, these indices is going to be the m and n.
System.out.println("Start indice: " + l);
System.out.println("End indice: " + k);
}
But, I see that results are not the same with your solution #Trying, did i misunderstand the question? By the way, at the and of your code, it prints
4 : 9
6 : 16
What are these? Which ones are indices?
Thanks.
EDIT: by adding place marked as 1 this:
if(a[i+1] == biggest) {
k = i;
break;
}
and 2:
if(a[i+1] == smallest) {
l = i;
break;
}
it is better.

Actually, you can have two pointers and the last pointer moves backward to check start index of the shortest unsorted sequence. It's kind of O(N2) but it is more cleaner.
public static int[] findMinUnsortedSequence(int[] array) {
int firstStartIndex = 0;
int startIndex = 0;
int endIndex = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < array.length; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < i; j++) {
if (array[j] <= array[i]) {
startIndex = j + 1;
} else {
endIndex = i;
if (firstStartIndex == 0) {
firstStartIndex = startIndex;
}
}
}
}
return new int[]{firstStartIndex, endIndex};
}

Find the largest span between the same number in an array

Merry Christmas and hope you are in great Spirits,I have a Question in Java-Arrays as shown below.Im stuck up with this struggling to get it rite.
Consider the leftmost and righmost appearances of some value in an array. We'll say that the "span" is the number of elements between the two inclusive. A single value has a span of 1. Write a **Java Function** that returns the largest span found in the given array.
**Example:
maxSpan({1, 2, 1, 1, 3}) → 4,answer is 4 coz MaxSpan between 1 to 1 is 4
maxSpan({1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 1, 4}) → 6,answer is 6 coz MaxSpan between 4 to 4 is 6
maxSpan({1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 4, 4}) → 6,answer is 6 coz Maxspan between 4 to 4 is 6 which is greater than MaxSpan between 1 and 1 which is 4,Hence 6>4 answer is 6.
I have the code which is not working,it includes all the Spans for a given element,im unable to find the MaxSpan for a given element.
Please help me out.
Results of the above Program are as shown below
Expected This Run
maxSpan({1, 2, 1, 1, 3}) → 4 5 X
maxSpan({1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 1, 4}) → 6 8 X
maxSpan({1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 4, 4}) → 6 9 X
maxSpan({3, 3, 3}) → 3 5 X
maxSpan({3, 9, 3}) → 3 3 OK
maxSpan({3, 9, 9}) → 2 3 X
maxSpan({3, 9}) → 1 1 OK
maxSpan({3, 3}) → 2 3 X
maxSpan({}) → 0 1 X
maxSpan({1}) → 1 1 OK
::Code::
public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int count=1;//keep an intial count of maxspan=1
int maxspan=0;//initialize maxspan=0
for(int i=0;i<nums.length;i++){
for(int j=i+1;j<nums.length;j++){
if(nums[i] == nums[j]){
//check to see if "i" index contents == "j" index contents
count++; //increment count
maxspan=count; //make maxspan as your final count
int number = nums[i]; //number=actual number for maxspan
}
}
}
return maxspan+1; //return maxspan
}

Since a solution has been given, here is a more efficient solution which uses one pass.
public static void main(String... args) {
int maxspan = maxspan(3, 3, 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 5, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1);
System.out.println(maxspan);
}
private static int maxspan(int... ints) {
Map<Integer, Integer> first = new LinkedHashMap<Integer, Integer>(); // use TIntIntHashMap for efficiency.
int maxspan = 0; // max span so far.
for (int i = 0; i < ints.length; i++) {
int num = ints[i];
if (first.containsKey(num)) { // have we seen this number before?
int span = i - first.get(num) + 1; // num has been found so what is the span
if (span > maxspan) maxspan = span; // if the span is greater, update the maximum.
} else {
first.put(num, i); // first occurrence of number num at location i.
}
}
return maxspan;
}

I see the following problems with your attempt:
Your count is completely wrong. You can instead calculate count from i and j: j - i + 1
You're overriding maxcount as soon as you get any span, so you're going to end up with the last span, not the maximum span. Fix it by going maxspan = Math.max(maxspan, count);.
You can remove the line int number = nums[i]; as you never use number.
Remove the +1 in the returnmaxspan+1;` if you follow my tips above.
Initial maxspan should be 1 if there are any values in the array, but 0 if the array is empty.
That should help you get it working. Note that you can do this in a single pass of the array, but that's probably stretching it too far for you. Concentrate on getting your code to work before considering efficiency.

Here is the solution of this problem:
public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int maxSpan=0;
int tempSpan=0;
if(nums.length==0){
return 0;
}
for(int i=0;i<nums.length;i++){
for(int j=nums.length-1;j>i;j--){
if(nums[i]==nums[j]){
tempSpan=j-i;
break;
}
}
if(tempSpan>maxSpan){
maxSpan=tempSpan;
}
}
return maxSpan+1;
}

I did it with a List. Easier way to do it.
The only problem is if the Array is too big, maybe it's gonna take a while..
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
public class StackOverflow {
public static void main(String[] args) {
List<Integer> listNumbers = new ArrayList<Integer>();
listNumbers.add(3);
listNumbers.add(3);
listNumbers.add(3);
listNumbers.add(2);
listNumbers.add(1);
listNumbers.add(4);
listNumbers.add(3);
listNumbers.add(5);
listNumbers.add(1);
listNumbers.add(1);
listNumbers.add(1);
listNumbers.add(1);
listNumbers.add(1);
listNumbers.add(3);
int result = 0;
Integer key = null;
for(Integer i : listNumbers){
int resultDistance = returnDistance(listNumbers, i);
if (resultDistance > result){
result = resultDistance;
key = i;
}
}
System.out.println("MaxSpan of key " + key + " is: " + result);
}
private static int returnDistance(List<Integer> listNumbers, Integer term){
Integer startPosition = null;
Integer endPosition = null;
boolean bolStartPosition = false;
boolean bolResult = false;
int count = 1;
int result = 0;
for (Integer i : listNumbers){
if (i == term && !bolStartPosition){
startPosition = count;
bolStartPosition = true;
continue;
}
if (i == term && bolStartPosition){
endPosition = count;
}
count++;
}
if (endPosition != null){
// because it's inclusive from both sides
result = endPosition - startPosition + 2;
bolResult = true;
}
return (bolResult?result:-1);
}
}

public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int b = 0;
if (nums.length > 0) {
for (int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
int a = nums[0];
if (nums[i] != a) {
b = nums.length - 1;
} else {
b = nums.length;
}
}
} else {
b = 0;
}
return b;
}

One brute force solution may like this, take one item from the array, and find the first occurance of item from the left most, and calculate the span, and then compare with the previous result.
public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int result = 0;
for(int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
int item = nums[i];
int span = 0;
for(int j = 0; j<= i; j++) {//find first occurance of item from the left
if(nums[j]==item) {
span = i -j+1;
break;
}
}
if(span>result) {
result = span;
}
}
return result;
}

Here is the solution -
public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int span = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
for(int j = i; j < nums.length; j++) {
if(nums[i] == nums[j]) {
if(span < (j - i + 1)) {
span = j -i + 1;
}
}
}
}
return span;
}

public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int span = 0;
//Given the values at position i 0..length-1
//find the rightmost position of that value nums[i]
for (int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
// find the rightmost of nums[i]
int j =nums.length -1;
while(nums[i]!=nums[j])
j--;
// j is at the rightmost posititon of nums[i]
span = Math.max(span,j-i+1);
}
return span;
}

public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
//convert the numnber to a string
String numbers = "";
if (nums.length == 0)
return 0;
for(int ndx = 0; ndx < nums.length;ndx++){
numbers += nums[ndx];
}
//check beginning and end of string
int first = numbers.indexOf(numbers.charAt(0));
int last = numbers.lastIndexOf(numbers.charAt(0));
int max = last - first + 1;
int efirst = numbers.indexOf(numbers.charAt(numbers.length()-1));
int elast = numbers.lastIndexOf(numbers.charAt(numbers.length()-1));
int emax = elast - efirst + 1;
//return the max span.
return (max > emax)?max:emax;
}

public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int current = 0;
int currentcompare = 0;
int counter = 0;
int internalcounter = 0;
if(nums.length == 0)
return 0;
for(int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
internalcounter = 0;
current = nums[i];
for(int x = i; x < nums.length; x++) {
currentcompare = nums[x];
if(current == currentcompare) {
internalcounter = x - i;
}
if(internalcounter > counter) {
counter = internalcounter;
}
}
}
return counter + 1;
}

public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
if(nums.length<1){
return 0;
}
int compare=1;
for (int i=0; i<nums.length; i++){
for (int l=1; l<nums.length; l++){
if((nums[l]==nums[i])&&(Math.abs(l)-Math.abs(i))>=compare){
compare = Math.abs(l)-Math.abs(i)+1;
}
}
}
return compare;
}

public static int MaxSpan(int[] input1, int key)
{
int Span = 0;
int length = input1.length;
int i,j,k = 0;
int start = 0, end = 0 ;
k = key;
for (int l = 0; l < length; l++) {
if(input1[l] == k) { start = l;
System.out.println("\nStart = " + start);
break;
}
}
if(start == 0) { Span = 0; System.out.println("Key not found"); return Span;}
for (j = length-1; j> start; j--) {
if(input1[j] == k) { end = j;
System.out.println("\nEnd = " + end);
break;
}
}
Span = end - start;
System.out.println("\nStart = " + start + "End = " + end + "Span = " + Span);
return Span;
}

public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int length = nums.length;
if(length <= 0)
return 0;
int left = nums[0];
int rigth = nums[length - 1];
int value = 1;
//If these values are the same, then the max span is length
if(left == rigth)
return length;
// the last match is the largest span for any value
for(int x = 1; x < length - 1; x++)
{
if(nums[x] == left || nums[x] == rigth)
value = x + 1;
}
return value;
}

public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int count, largest=0;
for (int x=0; x< nums.length; x++)
{
for (int y=0; y< nums.length; y++)
{
if (nums[x]==nums[y])
{
count= y-x+1;
if (count > largest)
{
largest= count;
}
}
}
}
return largest;
}

import java.io.*;
public class maxspan {
public static void main(String args[])throws java.io.IOException{
int A[],span=0,pos=0;
DataInputStream in=new DataInputStream(System.in);
System.out.println("enter the number of elements");
A=new int[Integer.parseInt(in.readLine())];
int i,j;
for(i=0;i<A.length;i++)
{
A[i]=Integer.parseInt(in.readLine());
}
for(i=0;i<A.length;i++)
{
for(j=A.length-1;j>=0;j--)
if(A[i]==A[j]&&(j-i)>span){span=j-i;pos=i;}
}
System.out.println("maximum span => "+(span+1)+" that is of "+A[pos]);
}
}

public static int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int left = 0;
int right = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
if (nums[0] == nums[nums.length - 1 - i]) {
left = nums.length - i;
break;
} else if (nums[nums.length - 1] == nums[i]) {
right = nums.length - i;
break;
}
}
return Math.max(left, right);
}

The above solutions are great, if your goal is to avoid using Arrays.asList and indexOf and LastIndexOf, the code below does the job as lazy as possible, while still being clear and concise.
public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
if(nums.length < 2){ //weed out length 0 and 1 cases
return nums.length;
}
int maxSpan = 1; //start out as 1
for(int a = 0; a < nums.length; a++){
for(int b = nums.length - 1; b > a; b--){
if(nums[a] == nums[b]){
maxSpan = Math.max(maxSpan, (b + 1 - a));
//A little tricky getting those indices together.
break; //there's no reason to continue,
//at least for this single loop execution inside another loop
}
}
}
return maxSpan; //the maxSpan is here!
}
The Math.max method returns the larger of 2 values, one of them if they are equal.

This is how I did it:
public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
for (int span=nums.length; span>0; span--) {
for (int i=0; i<nums.length-span+1; i++) {
if (nums[i] == nums[i+span-1]) return span;
}
}
return 0;
}

I am not sure, if I have to use 2 for-loops... or any loop at all?
If not, this version functions without any loop.
At first you check, if the length of the array is > 0. If not, you simply return the length of the array, which will correspond to the correct answer.
If it is longer than 0, you check if the first and last position in the array have the same value.
If yes, you return the length of the array as the maxSpan.
If not, you substract a 1, since the value appears twice in the array.
Done.
public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
if(nums.length > 0){
if(nums[0] == nums[nums.length - 1]){
return nums.length;
}
else{
return nums.length - 1;
}
}
return nums.length;
}

public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
Stack stack = new Stack();
int count = 1;
int value = 0;
int temp = 0;
if(nums.length < 1) {
return value;
}
for(int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
for(int j = nums.length - 1; j >= i; j--) {
if(nums[i] == nums[j]) {
count = (j - i) + 1;
stack.push(count);
count = 1;
break;
}
}
}
if(stack.peek() != null) {
while(stack.size() != 0) {
temp = (Integer) stack.pop();
if(value <= temp) {
value = temp;
} else {
value = value;
}
}
}
return value;
}

public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int totalspan=0;
int span=0;
for(int i=0;i<nums.length;i++)
{
for (int j=nums.length-1;j>i-1;j--)
{
if(nums[i]==nums[j])
{
span=j-i+1;
if (span>totalspan)
totalspan=span;
break;
}
}
}
return totalspan;
}

public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int max_span=0, j;
for (int i=0; i<nums.length; i++){
j=nums.length-1;
while(nums[i]!=nums[j]) j--;
if (j-i+1>max_span) max_span=j-i+1;
}
return max_span;
}

Linear solution with a Map storing the first occurrence, and calculating the distance from it for the next occurrences:
public int maxSpan(int[] nums) {
int span = 0;
Map<Integer, Integer> first = new HashMap<Integer, Integer>();
for (int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
if (!first.containsKey(nums[i]))
first.put(nums[i], i);
span = Math.max(span, (i - first.get(nums[i])) + 1);
}
return span;
}