Greedy Algorithms - Largest Number (Arrange to Form Biggest)
Which sorting strategy is essential to correctly arrange a list of non-negative integers to form the largest possible concatenated number?
Which sorting strategy is essential to correctly arrange a list of non-negative integers to form the largest possible concatenated number?
easy💻 Programming Q1 of Q15
Step-by-Step Solution
Solution:
Step 1: Convert integers to strings
To compare concatenations, numbers must be strings.Step 2: Define custom comparator
Compare two strings x and y by checking which of xy or yx is lexicographically larger.Step 3: Sort using this comparator
Sorting with this comparator ensures the concatenation forms the largest number.Final Answer:
Option C -> Option CQuick Check:
Custom comparator ensures correct order [OK]
Quick Trick: Use string concatenation comparison for sorting [OK]
Common Mistakes:
MISTAKES- Sorting numerically ascending or descending
- Sorting by string length only
- Ignoring concatenation order in comparison
Trap Explanation:
PITFALL- Sorting numerically or by length ignores concatenation order, leading to wrong results.
Interviewer Note:
CONTEXT- Tests understanding of the core sorting logic for largest number formation.
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