Let's jump

Computer Science Level 3

Assume an array of numbers $[4, 2, 5, 1, 0, 3, 7, 8, 6, 9]$ . Initially you are standing on the very first number, say '4'. Now jump 4 steps forward (till number '0'). Now you are standing on ZERO hence just step to the next number '3' (doing this is NOT a jump) then jump 3 steps again, you've reached number '6', finally you'll jump 6 steps forward to be out of the array. Collectively, you needed to jump thrice.

How many times do you need to jump in this case?

Details and Assumptions:

Treat all ZEROS as ONES and do NOT consider it a jump.

1995 2016 2015 1997

2 solutions

David Holcer
Jan 13, 2016

fname="array.txt"
text_file = open(fname, "r")
lines = text_file.read().split(',')

jumps=0
n=0
while n<len(lines):
    if (lines[n]!='0'):
        jumps+=1
        n+=int(lines[n])
    else:
        n+=1
print jumps

Interesting question. The size of the array required using an external file to speed up program speed. My method simply checked if each position with value x in the array was not 0, and jumped to the space x in front (in the array). If the value was zero, it would jump to the next value, but not count it as a jump.

Zeeshan Ali
Jan 11, 2016

Following is an algorithm (a general method) to do the task:

    jumps=0
    for i=0 to Arr.length-1
        if Arr[i] is not 0
            i=i+Arr[i]
            jumps=jumps+1
        else
            i=i+1
    return jumps

I hope that it would help you understand the concepts of Array Traversing and Manipulating.

Let's jump

2 solutions

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