0442A403's blog

Random problem
By 0442A403, 6 years ago, In English

You have an array $$$arr$$$ with $$$n$$$ elements. Let number $$$i$$$ occurs in multiset $$$Q$$$ $$$arr_i$$$ times. How to get random number from multiset $$$Q$$$ faster than $$$O($$$$$$\log n$$$$$$)$$$?

$$$n$$$ <= $$$1e5$$$, $$$arr_i$$$ <= $$$1e9$$$

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6 years ago, # |
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Is this even solvable?

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    6 years ago, # ^ |
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    I think that this one is $$$O(logn)$$$:

    Generate random number from $$$1$$$ to sum of elements of array $$$arr$$$. The answer will be minimum $$$i$$$ such that sum of elements of array $$$arr$$$ from $$$1$$$ to $$$i$$$ is greater than equal to this random number using binary search.

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6 years ago, # |
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You need to clarify this. Why can't I for O(1) take first item from Q? What "get random numner" there means? What multiset is for in this task?

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    6 years ago, # ^ |
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    In this task "multiset" is not name of data structure.

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6 years ago, # |
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Try this : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alias_method

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6 years ago, # |
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Sometimes I wonder what are the trends that determine whether a post would get straight up downvoted or not.

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