How to find max. and min. in array using minimum comparisons?

Question

This is a interview question: given an array of integers find the max. and min. using minimum comparisons.

Obviously, I can loop over the array twice and use ~

Answer 1

import java.util.*;
class Maxmin
{
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        int[] arr = new int[10];
        Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
        int i, min=0, max=0;
        for(i=0; i<=9; i++)
        {
            System.out.print("Enter any number: ");
            arr[i] = in.nextInt();          
        }
        min = arr[0];
        for(i=0; i<=9; i++)
        {
            if(arr[i] > max)
            {
                max = arr[i];
            }
            if(arr[i] < min)
            {
                min = arr[i];
            }
        }
        System.out.println("Maximum is: " + max);
        System.out.println("Minimum is: " + min);
    }
}

Answer 2

1. Pick 2 elements(a, b), compare them. (say a > b)
2. Update min by comparing (min, b)
3. Update max by comparing (max, a)

This way you would do 3 comparisons for 2 elements, amounting to 3N/2 total comparisons for N elements.

Answer 3

if (numbers.Length <= 0)
{
    Console.WriteLine("There are no elements");
    return;
}

if (numbers.Length == 1)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"There is only one element. So min and max of this 
                        array is: {numbers[0]}");
    return;
}

if (numbers.Length == 2)
{
    if (numbers[0] > numbers[1])
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"min = {numbers[1]}, max = {numbers[0]}");
        return;
    }

    Console.WriteLine($"min = {numbers[0]}, max = {numbers[1]}");
    return;
}

int i = 0;
int j = numbers.Length - 1;

int min = numbers[i];
int max = numbers[j];
i++;
j--;

while (i <= j)
{
    if(numbers[i] > numbers[j])
    {
        if (numbers[j] < min) min = numbers[j];
        if (numbers[i] > max) max = numbers[i];
    }
    else
    {
        if (numbers[i] < min) min = numbers[i];
        if (numbers[j] > max) max = numbers[j];
    }
    i++;
    j--;
}

It's a solution written in C#. I find this method of burning the candle at both ends to be a good contender as a solution.

Answer 4

My divide & conquer approach with java so far:

        public class code {    
    static int[] A = {444,9,8,6,199,3,0,5,3,200};
    static int min = A[0], max = A[1];
    static int count = 0;

    public void minMax(int[] A, int i, int j) {     
        if(i==j) {
            count = count + 2;
            min = Math.min(min, A[i]);
            max = Math.max(max, A[i]);
        }

        else if(j == i+1) {
            if(A[i] > A[j]) {
                count = count + 3;
                min = Math.min(min, A[j]);
                max = Math.max(max, A[i]);
            }
            else {
                count = count + 3;
                min = Math.min(min, A[i]);
                max = Math.max(max, A[j]);
            }
        }

        else {
            minMax(A,i,(i+j)/2);
            minMax(A,(i+j)/2+1,j);
        }
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        code c = new code();
        if(Math.min(A[0], A[1]) == A[0]) {
            count++;
            min = A[0];
            max = A[1];
        }
        else {
            count++;
            min = A[1];
            max = A[0];
        }
        c.minMax(A,2,A.length-1);
        System.out.println("Min: "+min+" Max: "+max);
        System.out.println("Total comparisons: " + count);
    }
}

Answer 5

Just loop over the array once, keeping track of the max and min so far.

Answer 6

public static int[] minMax(int[] array){
    int [] empty = {-1,-1};
    if(array==null || array.length==0){
        return empty;
    }

    int lo =0, hi = array.length-1;
    return minMax(array,lo, hi); 

}

private static int[] minMax(int []array, int lo, int hi){

    if(lo==hi){
        int [] result = {array[lo], array[hi]}; 
        return result;
    }else if(lo+1==hi){
        int [] result = new int[2];
        result[0] = Math.min(array[lo], array[hi]);
        result[1] = Math.max(array[lo], array[hi]);
        return result;
    }else{
        int mid = lo+(hi-lo)/2;          
        int [] left = minMax(array, lo, mid);
        int [] right = minMax(array, mid+1, hi);
        int []result = new int[2];          
        result[0] = Math.min(left[0], right[0]);
        result[1] = Math.max(left[1], right[1]);             
        return result;
    }

}

public static void main(String[] args) {

    int []array = {1,2,3,4,100};
    System.out.println("min and max values are "+Arrays.toString(minMax(array)));
}