Date post: | 17-Jul-2015 |
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Software |
Upload: | charanjit-ghai |
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Pre-Requisites
You must know what an array is and how to access the ith element in an arrayYou must know what a linked list is and how to implement the basic operations in a Linked List
Motivation ?
Sometimes the running time of our algorithm (as in Order notation) greatly varies according to how we store and retrieve our data.
Example ?Palindrome Checking using start and end indices. Time Complexitystring(char array) -> O(n)Singly Linked List -> O(n^2)
What is a Stack ?
What all stuff can we do with this ?
● We can Add one more plate onto the top.
● We can Remove the top most plate.
● We can See the top most plateEver used a bucket for carrying clothes for washing ? The cloth you push at last on the bucket, comes out first.
A Stack Of Plates
Stack in Programming
Similar is the idea of stack in Programming
● You can add an element onto the stack● You can remove the top most element● You can see the top most element
How to implement a stack then ?
You must have 4 functions for the stack:isEmpty , Push , Pop and Peek(Top)isEmpty : Checks if the stack is empty Push : Push another element onto stack
Pop : Pop the top most element out of stack
Peek : Return the top most element
Approach
Need to have a struct for stack having an array and top_of_stack variable.isEmpty : Condition for stack being empty.Push : Need to check for “over” push.Pop : Need to check for “over” pop.Peek : Need to check if stack is empty ?
Confused ? Lets’ go step by step
Approach
isEmpty : Condition for stack being empty.Push : No need to check for bounds. Can add any number of elements until it fits in memory.Pop/Peek : Need to check if stack is empty ?
Step #4
Push Operation ?If we insert at the end, then each push operation will take O(n) time. ouch!!Solution : We can use the tail pointer as well, and update it accordingly. Then, push will be O(1).But, now pop operation will take O(n) time, since for popping you will need to update tail pointer and we don’t have prev pointer in node struct.Solution : Why not insert at head instead. In that case push (insert at head) , pop (delete head) , and peek (get head value) will be O(1)). Yess!!
What is a Queue ?
What all stuff is possible in the queue ?
● Another person may join the queue
● The person at Front may leave the queue
● The person at Front may deal with the person in-charge
Ever stood in a queue for dosa ? A Queue of People
Queue in Programming
Similar is the idea of queue in Programming● You can add an element at the back● You can remove an element from the
front● You can see the element in front
How to implement a queue then ?
You must have 4 functions for the queue:isEmpty , Push , Pop and PeekisEmpty : Check if the queue is emptyPush : Push another element at the backPop : Pop out the element at the frontPeek : Return element at front
Limitations and Solutions
Note : once an element is popped, we are unable to use its’ space.Solution: Use Circular queue: front == end -> empty(end + 1)%size == front -> fullPush -> end = (end + 1)%sizePop -> front = (front + 1)%size
Using STL
Using STL stackNote: Stack is empty while we check top.You are responsible for your stack.
Using STL
Using STL queueNote: Queue is empty while we check front.You are responsible for your queue.
Problem:
Check if a string is palindrome or not using only one pass through the string and only one index variable. You are allowed to use one stack and one queue.
P.S.: I know the constraints do not make much sense, but I think we got the same problem in CS 101 End Sem.