Скачать или смотреть Restructuring Arrays in C: Sort and Calculate Distances with Pointers

Learn how to create a C program that rearranges an array using pointers while sorting the left half in increasing order and the right half in decreasing order.
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Restructuring Arrays in C: Sort and Calculate Distances with Pointers

If you are venturing into C programming, you might stumble upon a problem that involves arrays and pointers. In this guide, we'll address a common challenge: rearranging an array so that the left half is sorted in increasing order and the right half in decreasing order. Additionally, we'll compute the positive distance between the corresponding elements of these two halves.

Problem Statement

Imagine you have an array of integers with an even size. The task is to reorder the array so that:

The left half is sorted from smallest to largest.

The right half is sorted from largest to smallest.

Moreover, after rearranging the elements, you need to print the difference (positive) between the corresponding elements of the two halves.

Sample Input

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Expected Output

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Solution Breakdown

Next, we will explore how to implement this in C using pointers and functions. Here’s how to go about it:

Step 1: Define the Pointer for the Array

First, we need to declare the array using a pointer instead of a traditional array:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Allocate Memory Dynamically

We then allocate memory for the array based on the user's input for the size:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Make sure to include the header <stdlib.h> at the top of your C file to use malloc().

Step 3: Function Prototype

When defining the sort function, use the following prototype so the function can properly handle the pointer:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This enables the function to accept the pointer to the array and its size, allowing for flexible manipulation.

Step 4: Rearranging the Array

As per your original code, we will split the sorting into two parts – one for the left half and another for the right half. Here is a structured approach to sort the array halves.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 5: Calculating Distances

After sorting, we will compute and print the distances between the corresponding elements in the two halves:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Full Code Example

Here is how the complete program would look like, encapsulating everything discussed:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

This program effectively rearranges an array, organizes its halves in specified orders, and computes the differences. Working with pointers in C might seem challenging at first, but with practice, it will become second nature. By understanding how to manipulate arrays through pointers, you open up a world of programming possibilities in C.

Now it's your turn to try it out! Happy coding!