unsorted array function

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Francis Yang 2024-01-09 06:28:21 -08:00
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# Twin Pointers
The twin pointers method, also known as the two pointers method, is a searching algorithm that can be used on both
The twin pointers method, also known as the two pointers method, is a searching algorithm
that can be used on both sorted and unsorted numerical arrays/lists, depending on the intent of the function.
At its simplest form the twin pointer method employes two "pointers" that either move at different
speeds/from different starting positions in order to draw comparisons between values in order to
find some specified target. In the case that the array/list being searched through is sorted,
a common usage of the twin pointers is to have one at the starting and one at the ending position;
in this manner, moving the left pointer to the right can be assumed to increase its value while moving
the right pointer to the left can be assumed to do vice versa. In the case of an unsorted arrays/list,
the usage methods are generally much more varied based on what the characteristics of the intended
target of the search are.
Note that any array can be sorted to easily use the twin pointer method by using the Array.sort method.
However, the Array.sort method inherently has a time complexity of O(n log n), which can be undesirable
in many cases when the desired time complexity of your solution is simply O(n).
![Binary Search](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Binary_Search_Depiction.svg)
@ -10,5 +23,5 @@ The twin pointers method, also known as the two pointers method, is a searching
## References
- [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_search_algorithm)
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3YID7liBug&index=29&list=PLLXdhg_r2hKA7DPDsunoDZ-Z769jWn4R8)
- [GeeksForGeeks](https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/two-pointers-technique/)
- [YouTube](https://youtu.be/VEPCm3BCtik?si=rH9O1My7Ym_83FrR)

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import Comparator from '../../../utils/comparator/Comparator';
/**
* Some twin pointer implementations.
*
* @param {*[]} sortedArray
* @param {*} seekElement
* @param {function(a, b)} [comparatorCallback]
* @return {[number, number]}
*/
// Example of a twin pointer application in a sorted array where we are seeking the indices of two elements that sum to equal the target.
export function twinPointerSorted(sortedArray, seekElement, comparatorCallback) {
const comparator = new Comparator(comparatorCallback);
// These variables will be our pointers; since the array is sorted, we can set them to the left and rightmost elements.
let left = 0;
let right = sortedArray.length - 1
// If our left and right pointers have met then we have iterated through the entire array.
while (left < right) {
/**
* If our sum is less than the target then we can increase said sum but by increasing the left value;
* since the array is sorted, this will always result in array[left] becoming a larger number.
*/
if (comparator.lessThan(sortedArray[left] + sortedarray[right], seekElement)) {
left++;
// Same concept as before, only now we decrease our sum because it's greater than the target.
} else if (comparator.greaterThan(sortedArray[left] + sortedarray[right], seekElement)) {
right--;
// Assuming we have found our target, return left and right since they represent the indices that our correct sum is located at.
} else {
return [left, right]
}
}
// Return [0, 0] (an impossible answer due to our while loop) if we haven't found any combination of numbers that works.
return [0, 0];
}
// An example of a twin pointer method on an unsorted array.
export function twinPointerUnsorted(sortedArray, seekElement, comparatorCallback) {
const comparator = new Comparator(comparatorCallback);
// These variables will be our pointers; since the array is sorted, we can set them to the left and rightmost elements.
let left = 0;
let right = sortedArray.length - 1
// If our left and right pointers have met then we have iterated through the entire array.
while (left < right) {
/**
* If our sum is less than the target then we can increase said sum but by increasing the left value;
* since the array is sorted, this will always result in array[left] becoming a larger number.
*/
if (comparator.lessThan(sortedArray[left] + sortedarray[right], seekElement)) {
left++;
// Same concept as before, only now we decrease our sum because it's greater than the target.
} else if (comparator.greaterThan(sortedArray[left] + sortedarray[right], seekElement)) {
right--;
// Assuming we have found our target, return left and right since they represent the indices that our correct sum is located at.
} else {
return [left, right]
}
}
// Return [0, 0] (an impossible answer due to our while loop) if we haven't found any combination of numbers that works.
return [0, 0];
}