Minimum number of bins required to place N items ( Using Best Fit algorithm )

Last Updated : 09 Apr, 2021

Given an array weight[] consisting of weights of N items and a positive integer C representing the capacity of each bin, the task is to find the minimum number of bins required such that all items are assigned to one of the bins.

Examples:

Input: weight[] = {4, 8, 1, 4, 2, 1}, C = 10
Output: 2
Explanation: The minimum number of bins required to accommodate all items is 2.
The first bin contains the items with weights {4, 4, 2}.
The second bin contains the items with weights {8, 1, 1}.
Input: weight[] = {9, 8, 2, 2, 5, 4}, C = 10
Output: 4

Approach: The given problem can be solved by using the best-fit algorithm. The idea is to place the next item in the bin, where the smallest empty space is left. Follow the steps below to solve the problem:

Initialize a variable, say count as 0 that stores the minimum number of bins required.
Sort the given array weight[] in decreasing order.
Initialize a multiset, say M to store the empty spaces left in the occupied bins presently.
Traverse the array weight[] and for each element perform the following steps:
- If there exists the smallest empty space which is at least arr[i] is present in the M, then erase that space from M and insert the remaining free space to M.
- Otherwise, increment the count by 1 and insert the empty space of the new bin in M.
After completing the above steps, print the value of count as the minimum number of bins required.

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program for the above approach
  
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
  
// Function to find the minimum number
// of bins required to fill all items
void bestFit(int arr[], int n, int W)
{
    // Stores the required number
    // of bins
    int count = 0;
  
    // Sort the array in decreasing order
    sort(arr, arr + n, greater<int>());
  
    // Stores the empty spaces in
    // existing bins
    multiset<int> M;
  
    // Traverse the given array
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
  
        // Check if exact space is
        // present in the set M
        auto x = M.find(arr[i]);
  
        // Store the position of the
        // upperbound of arr[i] in M
        auto y = M.upper_bound(arr[i]);
  
        // If arr[i] is present, then
        // use this space and erase it
        // from the map M
        if (x != M.end()) {
            M.erase(x);
        }
  
        // If upper bound of arr[i] is
        // present, use this space and
        // insert the left space
        else if (y != M.end()) {
            M.insert(*y - arr[i]);
            M.erase(y);
        }
  
        // Otherwise, increment the count
        // of bins and insert the
        // empty space in M
        else {
            count++;
            M.insert(W - arr[i]);
        }
    }
  
    // Print the result
    cout << count;
}
  
// Driver Code
int main()
{
    int items[] = { 4, 8, 1, 4, 2, 1 };
    int W = 10;
    int N = sizeof(items) / sizeof(items[0]);
  
    // Function Call
    bestFit(items, N, W);
  
    return 0;
}

Output:

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

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