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Minimize cost to reduce Array if for choosing every 2 elements, 3rd one is chosen for free

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Given an array arr[]. The task is to minimize the cost of reducing the array with a given operation. In one operation choose two elements add their value to the total cost and remove them and remove any other element with a value almost the two chosen elements. 

Examples:

Input: arr[] = {1, 2, 3}
Output: 5
Explanation: Choose 2 and 3, cost = 5. 1 is reduced from array for free.

Input: arr[] = {6, 5, 7, 9, 2, 2}
Output: 23

 

Approach: This problem can be solved by using the Greedy Approach. Follow the steps below to solve the given problem.

  • Sort the given array.
  • Traverse the sorted array from the end.
  • Add 2 elements to the final cost and skip the 3rd one.
  • Return the final cost.

Below is the implementation of the above approach.

C++




// C++ program for above approach
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to find minimum cost
// to get the desired array
int minCost(vector<int>& arr)
{
    // Sorting the array
    sort(arr.begin(), arr.end());
    int ans = 0;
    for (int i = arr.size() - 1, k = 1;
         i >= 0;
         i--, k++)
        if (k == 3)
            k = 0;
        else
            ans += arr[i];
    return ans;
}
 
// Driver Code
int main()
{
    vector<int> arr = { 6, 5, 7, 9, 2, 2 };
 
    // Function Call
    cout << minCost(arr);
    return 0;
}


Java




// JAVA program for above approach
import java.util.*;
class GFG
{
 
  // Function to find minimum cost
  // to get the desired array
  public static int minCost(ArrayList<Integer> arr)
  {
    // Sorting the array
    Collections.sort(arr);
    int ans = 0;
    for (int i = arr.size() - 1, k = 1; i >= 0;
         i--, k++)
      if (k == 3)
        k = 0;
    else
      ans += arr.get(i);
    return ans;
  }
 
  // Driver Code
  public static void main(String[] args)
  {
    ArrayList<Integer> arr = new ArrayList<>(
      Arrays.asList(6, 5, 7, 9, 2, 2));
 
    // Function Call
    System.out.print(minCost(arr));
  }
}
 
// This code is contributed by Taranpreet


Python3




# Python code for the above approach
 
# Function to find minimum cost
# to get the desired array
def minCost(arr):
 
    # Sorting the array
    arr.sort()
    ans = 0
    k = 1
    for i in range(len(arr) - 1, 0, -1):
        if k == 3:
            k = 0
        else:
            ans = ans + arr[i]
        k = k + 1
    return ans
 
# Driver Code
arr = [6, 5, 7, 9, 2, 2]
 
# Function Call
print(minCost(arr))
 
# This code is contributed by Potta Lokesh


C#




// C# program for above approach
using System;
class GFG
{
 
  // Function to find minimum cost
  // to get the desired array
  static int minCost(int[] arr)
  {
 
    // Sorting the array
    Array.Sort(arr);
    int ans = 0;
    for (int i = arr.Length - 1, k = 1; i >= 0;
         i--, k++)
      if (k == 3)
        k = 0;
    else
      ans += arr[i];
    return ans;
  }
 
  // Driver Code
  public static void Main()
  {
    int[] arr = { 6, 5, 7, 9, 2, 2 };
 
    // Function Call
    Console.Write(minCost(arr));
  }
}
 
// This code is contributed by Samim Hossain Mondal.


Javascript




<script>
    // JavaScript program for above approach
 
    // Function to find minimum cost
    // to get the desired array
    const minCost = (arr) => {
     
        // Sorting the array
        arr.sort();
        let ans = 0;
        for (let i = arr.length - 1, k = 1;
            i >= 0;
            i--, k++)
            if (k == 3)
                k = 0;
            else
                ans += arr[i];
        return ans;
    }
 
    // Driver Code
    let arr = [6, 5, 7, 9, 2, 2];
 
    // Function Call
    document.write(minCost(arr));
 
// This code is contributed by rakeshsahni
 
</script>


 
 

Output

23

 

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

 



Last Updated : 10 Feb, 2022
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