algorithm - How to sort a 0/1 array with 2n/3 comparisons?
- by Jackson Tale
In Algorithm Design Manual, there is such an excise
4-26 Consider the problem of sorting a sequence of n 0’s and 1’s using
comparisons. For each comparison of two values x and y, the algorithm
learns which of x < y, x = y, or x y holds.
(a) Give an algorithm to sort in n - 1 comparisons in the worst case.
Show that your algorithm is optimal.
(b) Give an algorithm to sort in 2n/3 comparisons in the average case
(assuming each of the n inputs is 0 or 1 with equal probability). Show
that your algorithm is optimal.
For (a), I think it is fairly easy. I can choose a[n-1] as pivot, then do something like in quicksort partition, scan 0 to n - 2, find the middle point where left side is all 0 and right side is all 1, this take n - 1 comparisons.
But for (b), I can't get a clue. It says "each of the n inputs is 0 or 1 with equal probability", so I guess I can assume the numbers of 0 and 1 equal? But how can I get a result which is related to 1/3? divide the whole array into 3 groups?
Thanks
