A word-and-number arrangement machine, when given an input line of words and numbers, rearranges it in steps, working the two ends of the line by turns. In every odd-numbered step the largest number not already shifted is taken out and placed at the extreme left end; in every even-numbered step the smallest number not already shifted is taken out and placed at the extreme right end. Words are never shifted, every other element keeps its relative position, and the machine stops once every number has been shifted. Input: 34 jaipur 71 indore 28 kochi 56. Which of the following is Step 2 of the above arrangement?

Question

Accepted Answer

71 34 jaipur indore kochi 56 28. Step 1 is odd, so the largest number, 71, goes to the extreme left: 71 34 jaipur indore 28 kochi 56. Step 2 is even, so the smallest unshifted number, 28, goes to the extreme right: 71 34 jaipur indore kochi 56 28, the answer. "71 34 jaipur indore 28 kochi 56" is Step 1 and "56 71 34 jaipur indore kochi 28" is Step 3, the off-by-one steps. "28 71 34 jaipur indore kochi 56" sends the smallest number to the left end instead of the right, ignoring that the machine works the two ends by turns.

Step-by-Step Solution

Master this topic in 30 minutes a day.

More Input-Output practice