Checking string has balanced parentheses

Question

I am reading the Algorithm Design Manual Second Edition and this is from an exercise question. Quoting the question

A common problem for comp

Answer 1

int i;
int len; 
char popped;
stack st;
string a = "({<<";
len = a.length();

for(i=0;i' || a[i] == ')' || a[i] == ']' || a[i] == '}')
    {
        if(st.empty())
        {
            cout << "stack is empty, when popped , not balanced" << endl;
            return 0;
        }
        else
        {
            popped = st.top(); 
            st.pop();
            if (!((a[i] == '>' && popped == '<') || (a[i] == ')' && popped == '(') || (a[i] == '}' && popped == '{') || (a[i] == '>' && popped == '<'))) //ok
            {
                cout << "not balanced on character" + std::string(1,a[i]) << endl;
                return 0;
            }
        }

    }

}
if(st.empty())
{
    cout << "balanced" << endl;
}
else
{
    cout << "not balanced stack not empty" << endl;
}