I'm currently studying for an advanced algorithms and datastructures exam, and I simply can't seem to solve one of the practice-problems which is the following:
1.14) "Nice Triangle"
A "nice" triangle is defined in the following way:
There are three different numbers which the triangle consists of, namely the first three prime numbers (2, 3 and 5).
Every number depends on the two numbers below it in the following way.
Numbers are the same, resulting number is also the same. (2, 2 => 2)
Numbers are different, resulting number is the remaining number. (2, 3 => 5)
Given an integer N with length L, corresponding to the base of the triangle, determine the last element at the top
For example:
Given N = 25555 (and thus L = 5), the triangle looks like this:
2
3 5
2 5 5
3 5 5 5
2 5 5 5 5
=> 2 is the result of this example
What does the fact that every number is prime have to do with the problem?
By using a naive approach (simply calculating every single row), one obtains a time-complexity of O(L^2).
However, the professor said, it's possible with O(L), but I simply can't find any pattern!!!
I'm not sure why this problem would be used in an advanced algorithms course, but yes, you can do this in O(l) = O(log n) time.
There are a couple ways you can do it, but they both rely on recognizing that:
For the problem statement, it doesn't matter what digits you use. Lets use 0, 1, and 2 instead of 2, 3, and 5. Then
If a and b are the input numbers and c is the output, then c = -(a+b) mod 3
You can build the whole triangle using c = a+b mod 3 instead, and then just negate every second row.
Now the two ways you can do this in O(log n) time are:
For each digit d in the input, calculate the number of times (call it k) that it gets added into the final sum, add up all the kd mod 3, and then negate the result if you started with an even number of digits. That takes constant time per digit. Alternatively:
recognize that you can do arithmetic on n-sized values in constant time. Make a value that is a bit mask of all the digits in n. That takes 2 bits each. Then by using bitwise operations you can calculate each row from the previous one in constant time, for O(log n) time altogether.
Here's an implementation of the 2nd way in python:
def niceTriangle(n):
# a vector of 3-bit integers mod 3
rowvec = 0
# a vector of 1 for each number in the row
onevec = 0
# number of rows remaining
rows = 0
# mapping for digits 0-9
digitmap = [0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2]
# first convert n into the first row
while n > 0:
digit = digitmap[n % 10]
n = n//10
rows += 1
onevec = (onevec << 3) + 1
rowvec = (rowvec << 3) + digit
if rows%2 == 0:
# we have an even number of rows -- negate everything
rowvec = ((rowvec&onevec)<<1) | ((rowvec>>1)&onevec)
while rows > 1:
# add each number to its neighbor
rowvec += (rowvec >> 3)
# isolate the entries >= 3, by adding 1 to each number and
# getting the 2^2 bit
gt3 = ((rowvec + onevec) >> 2) & onevec
# subtract 3 from all the greater entries
rowvec -= gt3*3
rows -= 1
return [2,3,5][rowvec%4]
The question is what is the smallest possible value of N so R= 41441? I did the problem and the result is 1234 but I am curious if there is an easier and faster way to do such problems. What I did is simulate the algorithm running in my head from the end to beginning until I get the first number which is also the answer. TBD the last number that gets run in the flow is 1 because 1 div 5 is 0 and 1 mod 5 is 1 which is the final number of R, then the number before that that was ran was 9 because 9 mod 5 is 4 which is the second last number of R and 9 div 5 is 1 which is the next number that runs in the flow. I kept on doing that until I made it to the final number which is 1234 and gives me all the numbers I need for R: 41441.
Are there any clever methods for doing these problems in a more efficient way?
The problem of finding N is equivalent to the problem of finding the conversion to base 10 of the number in base 5 "14414" which is the string R reversed. This just follows from what a base b representation is, and what the fact that if you have a number N in base b, N mod b just gives you the last digit, and N div b gives you the number with the last digit chopped of.
I am working on an algorithm to determine whether a given number is prime and came across this website. But then I though of trying my own logic. I can easily eliminate numbers ending in 2,4,5,6,8 (and 0 for numbers above 5), so I am left with 1,3,7 and 9 as the possible last digit. Now, if the last digit is 3, I can add up the individual digits to check if it is divisible by 3. I don't want to perform modulus(%) operation and add them. Is there a much more efficient way to sum the digits in a decimal number? Maybe using bitwise operations... ?
% or modulus operator would be faster than adding individul digits. But if you really want to do this, you can unroll your loop partly in such a way that multiples of 3 are escaped automatically.
For ex:
2 is prime
3 is prime
candidate = 5
while(candidate <= limit - 2 * 3) // Unrolling loop for next 2 * 3 number
{
if ( CheckPrime(candidate) ) candidate is prime;
candidate += 2;
if ( CheckPrime(candidate) ) candidate is prime;
candidate += 4; // candidate + 2 is multiple of 3 (9, 15, 21 etc)
}
if(candidate < limit) CheckPrime(candidate);
In above method we are eliminating multiples of 3 instead of checking the divisibility of 3 by adding the digits.
You had a good observation. Incidentally it is called wheel factorization to find prime. I have done for wheel size = 6 (2*3), but you can do the same for larger wheel size also, for ex: 30(2*3*5). The snippet above is also called as all prime number are of type 6N±1.
(because 6N+3 is multiple of 3)
p.s. Not all numbers ending at 2 and 5 are composite. Number 2 and 5 are exceptions.
You might consider the following but i think modulus is fastest way :-
1. 2^n mod 3 = 1 if n is even and = 2 if n is odd
2. odd bits and even bits cancel each out as their sum is zero modulo 3
4. so the absolute difference of odd and even bits is the remainder
5. As difference might be again greater than 3 you need to again calculate modulo 3
6. step 5 can be done recursively
Pseudo code :-
int modulo3(int num) {
if(num<3)
return num;
int odd_bits = cal_odd(num);
int even_bits = cal_even(num);
return module3(abs(even_bits-odd_bits));
}
I've found a code to find number of possibilities to make change using given coins: How to count possible combination for coin problem. But how to count it, if we think about different permutations of the same sequence? I mean that, e.g. amount is 12, and "4 4 2 2" and "4 2 4 2" should be counted as 2, not 1.
As you've mentioned inside your question you can count the possible combinations as stated in How to count possible combination for coin problem. But in order to include the permutations into your answer:
If you distinguish the permutation of the same numbers [1 7 7] and [1 7 7] e.g. just count each sequence([1 7 7] here) as n! (n = # of elements in the sequence) [instead of 1]
Otherwise : multiply each sequence by n!/(m!l!...) where m = number of equal elements of type 1, l is number of equal elements of type 2 and so on... . For example for sequence like [a b b c c c] you should count this 6!/(2!*3!) [instead of 1]
So use the algorithm inside that link, that I don't repeat again, but just instead of counting each combination as 1 use the formula that I said (depending on the case you desire).
(! is factorial.)
I am trying to think of an algorithm to implement this for a given n bit binary number. I tried out many examples, but am unable to find out any pattern. So how shall I proceed?
How about this:
Convert the number to base 4 (this is trivial by simply combining pairs of bits). 5 in base 4 is 11. The values base 4 that are divisible by 11 are somewhat familiar: 11, 22, 33, 110, 121, 132, 203, ...
The rule for divisibility by 11 is that you add all the odd digits and all the even digits and subtract one from the other. If the result is divisible by 11 (which remember is 5), then it's divisible by 11 (which remember is 5).
For example:
123456d = 1 1110 0010 0100 0000b = 132021000_4
The even digits are 1 2 2 0 0 : sum = 5d
The odd digits are 3 0 1 0 : sum = 4d
Difference is 1, which is not divisble by 5
Or another one:
123455d = 1 1110 0010 0011 1111b = 132020333_4
The even digits are 1 2 2 3 3 : sum = 11d
The odd digits are 3 0 0 3 : sum = 6d
Difference is 5, which is a 5 or a 0
This should have a fairly efficient HW implementation because it's mostly bit-slicing, followed by N/2 adders, where N is the number of bits in the number you're interested in.
Note that after adding the digits and subtracting, the maximum value is 3/4 * N, so if you have 16-bit numbers max, you can get at most 12 as a result, so you only need to check for 0, ±5 and ±10 explicitly. If you're using 32-bit numbers then you can get at most 24 as a result, so you need to also check if the result is ±15 or ±20.
Make a Deterministic Finite Automaton (DFA) to implement the divisibility check and implement the DFA in hardware.
Creating a DFA for divisibility by 5 is easy. You just need to notice the remainders and check what 2r (mod 5) and 2r + 1(mod 5) map to. There are many websites that discuss this. For example this one.
There are well-known examples to convert DFA to a hardware representation as well.
Well , I just figured out ...
number mod 5 = a0 * 2^0 mod 5 + a1 * 2^1 mod 5 +a2* 2^2 mod 5 + a3 * 2^3 mod 5 + a4 * 2^4 mod 5 + ....
= a0 (1) + a1(2) +a2 (-1) +a3 (-2) +a4 (1) repeats ...
Hence difference of odd digits + 2 times difference of even digits = divisible by 5
for example ... consider 110010
odd digits differnce = 0-0+1 = 1 or 01
even digits difference = 1-0+1 = 2 or 10
difference of odd digits + 2 times difference of even digits = 01 + 2*(10)=01 + 100 = 101 is divisible by 5 .
The contribution of each bit toward being divisible by five is a four bit pattern 3421.
You could shift through any binary number 4 bits at a time adding the corresponding value for positive bits.
Example:
100011
take 0011
apply the pattern 0021
sum 3
next four bits 0010
apply the pattern 0020
sum = 5
We can design a Deterministic Finite Automaton (DFA) for the same. The DFA, then can be implemented in Hardware. This is similar to this answer.
We will simulate a Deterministic Finite Automaton (DFA) that accepts Binary Representation of Integers which are divisible by 5
Now, by accept, we mean that when we are done with scanning string, we should be in one of the multiple possible Final States.
Approach to Design DFA : Essentially, we need to divide the Binary Representation of Integer by 5, and track the remainder. If after consuming/scanning [From Left to Right] the entire string, remainder is Zero, then we should end up in Final State, and if remainder isn't zero we should be in Non-Final States.
Now, DFA is defined by Quintuple/5-Tuple (Q,q₀,F,Σ,δ). We will obtain these five components step-by-step.
Q : Finite Set of States
We need to track remainder. On dividing any integer by 5, we can get remainder as 0,1, 2, 3 or 4. Hence, we will have Five States Z, O, T, Th and F for each possible remainder.
Q={Z, O, T, Th, F}
If after scanning certain part of Binary String, we are in state Z, this means that integer defined from Left to this part will give remainder Zero when divided by 5. Similarly, O for remainder One, and so on.
Now, we can write these three states by Euclidean Division Algorithm as
Z : 5m
O : 5m+1
T : 5m+2
Th : 5m+3
F : 5m+4
where m is Integer.
q₀ : an initial/start state from set Q
Now, start state can be thought in terms of empty string (ɛ). An ɛ directly gets into q₀.
What remainder does ɛ gives when divided by 5?
We can append as many 0s in left hand side of a Binary Number. In the similar fashion, we can append ɛ in left hand side of a Binary String. Thus, ɛ in left can be thought of as 0. And 0 when divided by 5 gives remainder 0. Hence, ɛ should end in State Z. But ɛ ends up in q₀.
Thus, q₀=Z
F : a set of accept states
Now we want all strings which are divisible by 5, or which gives remainder 0 when divided by 5, or which after complete scanning should end up in state Z, and gets accepted.
Hence,
F={Z}
Σ : Alphabet (a finite set of input symbols)
Since we are scanning/reading a Binary String. Hence,
Σ={0,1}
δ : Transition Function (δ : Q × Σ → Q)
Now this δ tells us that if we are in state x (in Q) and next input to be scanned is y (in Σ), then at which state z (in Q) should we go.
If the string upto this point gives remainder 3/Th when divided by 5, and if we append 1 to string, then what remainder will resultant string give.
Now, this can be analyzed by observing how magnitude of a binary string changes on appending 0 and 1.
a.
In Decimal (Base-10), if we add/append 0, then magnitude gets multiplied by 10 . 53, on appending 0 it becomes 530
Also, if we append 8 to decimal, then Magnitude gets multiplied by 10, and then we add 8 to multiplied magnitude.
b.
In Binary (Base-2), if we add/append 0, then magnitude gets multiplied by 2 (The Positional Weight of each Bit get multiplied by 2)
Example : (1010)2 [which is (10)10], on appending 0 it becomes (10100)2 [which is (20)10]
Similarly, In Binary, if we append 1, then Magnitude gets multiplied by 2, and then we add 1.
Example : (10)2 [which is (2)10], on appending 1 it becomes (101)2 [which is (5)10]
Thus, we can say that for Binary String x,
x0=2|x|
x1=2|x|+1
We will use these relation to analyze Five States
Any string in Z can be written as 5m
- On 0, it becomes 2(5m), which is 5(2m), nothing but state Z.
- On 1, it becomes 2(5m)+1, which is 5(2m)+1, that is O. [This can be read as if a Binary String is presently divisible by 5, and we append 1, then resultant string will give remainder as 1]
Any string in O can be written as 5m+1
- On 0, it becomes 2(5m+1) = 10m+2, which is 5(2m)+2, state T.
- On 1, it becomes 2(5m+1)+1 = 10m+3, which is 5(2m)+3, that is state Th.
Any string in T can be written as 5m+2
- On 0, it becomes 2(5m+2) = 10m+4, which is 5(2m)+4, state F.
- On 1, it becomes 2(5m+2)+1 = 10m+5, which is 5(2m+1), state Z. [If m is integer, so is (2m+1)]
Any string in Th can be written as 5m+3
- On 0, it becomes 2(5m+3) = 10m+6, which is 5(2m+1)+1, state V.
- On 1, it becomes 2(5m+3)+1 = 10m+7, which is 5(2m+1)+2, that is state T.
Any string in F can be written as 5m+4
- On 0, it becomes 2(5m+4) = 10m+8, which is 5(2m+1)+3, state Th.
- On 1, it becomes 2(5m+4)+1 = 10m+9, which is 5(2m+1)+4, that is state F.
Hence, the final DFA combining Everything (creating using Tool)
We can even write code [in High Level Language] for the same. But it would go beyond main aim of this question. If readers wish to see the same, they can check here.
As any assignment this would have been an answer for is bound to be way overdue a year later:
in the binary representation of a natural divisible by five the parities of bits 4n and 4n+2 equal, as well as those for bits 4n+1 and 4n+3.
(This is entirely equivalent to the answers of JoshG79, notsogeek, or james: 4≡-1(mod 5), 3≡-2(mod 5) (with reduced hand-waving about recursion in argumentation, and no dispensable handling of carries in circuitry))