Open In App

Javascript Program for Maximum difference between groups of size two

Last Updated : 27 Apr, 2023
Improve
Improve
Like Article
Like
Save
Share
Report

Given an array of even number of elements, form groups of 2 using these array elements such that the difference between the group with highest sum and the one with lowest sum is maximum.
Note: An element can be a part of one group only and it has to be a part of at least 1 group. 
Examples: 
 

Input : arr[] = {1, 4, 9, 6}
Output : 10
Groups formed will be (1, 4) and (6, 9), 
the difference between highest sum group
(6, 9) i.e 15 and lowest sum group (1, 4)
i.e 5 is 10.


Input : arr[] = {6, 7, 1, 11}
Output : 11
Groups formed will be (1, 6) and (7, 11), 
the difference between highest sum group
(7, 11) i.e 18 and lowest sum group (1, 6)
i.e 7 is 11.

 

Simple Approach: We can solve this problem by making all possible combinations and checking each set of combination differences between the group with the highest sum and with the lowest sum. A total of n*(n-1)/2 such groups would be formed (nC2). 
Time Complexity: O(n^3), because it will take O(n^2) to generate groups and to check against each group n iterations will be needed thus overall it takes O(n^3) time.
Efficient Approach: We can use the greedy approach. Sort the whole array and our result is sum of last two elements minus sum of first two elements.
 

Javascript




<script>
 
    // Javascript program to
    // find minimum difference
    // between groups of highest and lowest
    // sums.
     
    function CalculateMax(arr, n)
    {
        // Sorting the whole array.
        arr.sort(function(a, b){return a - b});
 
        let min_sum = arr[0] + arr[1];
        let max_sum = arr[n-1] + arr[n-2];
 
        return (Math.abs(max_sum - min_sum));
    }
     
    let arr = [ 6, 7, 1, 11 ];
    let n = arr.length;
    document.write(CalculateMax(arr, n));
         
</script>


Output:  

11

Time Complexity: O (n * log n)

Space Complexity: O(1) as no extra space has been taken.

Further Optimization : 
Instead of sorting, we can find a maximum two and minimum of two in linear time and reduce the time complexity to O(n). 
 

 Below is the code for the above approach.

Javascript




<script>
 
    // Javascript program to
    // find minimum difference
    // between groups of highest and lowest
    // sums.
     
    function CalculateMax(arr, n)
    {
    let first_min = Math.min.apply(Math,arr);;
    let second_min = Number.MAX_VALUE;
    for(let i = 0; i < n ; i ++)
    {
        // If arr[i] is not equal to first min
        if (arr[i] != first_min)
            second_min = Math.min(arr[i],second_min);
    }
     
    let first_max = Math.max.apply(Math,arr);;
    let second_max = Number.MIN_VALUE;
    for (let i = 0; i < n ; i ++)
    {
        // If arr[i] is not equal to first max
        if (arr[i] != first_max)
            second_max = Math.max(arr[i],second_max);
    }
     
    return Math.abs(first_max+second_max-first_min-second_min);
    }
     
    let arr = [ 6, 7, 1, 11 ];
    let n = arr.length;
    document.write(CalculateMax(arr, n));
         
</script>


Time Complexity: O(N)
Auxiliary Space: O(1)

Please refer complete article on Maximum difference between groups of size two for more details!



Like Article
Suggest improvement
Previous
Next
Share your thoughts in the comments

Similar Reads