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Ways to choose three points with distance between the most distant points <= L

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Given a set of n distinct points x1, x2, x3… xn all lying on the X-axis and an integer L, the task is to find the number of ways of selecting three points such that the distance between the most distant points is less than or equal to L

Note: Order is not important i.e the points {3, 2, 1} and {1, 2, 3} represent the same set of three points

Examples: 

Input : x = {1, 2, 3, 4}, L = 3 
Output : 4
Explanation: 
Ways to select three points such that the distance between the most distant points <= L are: 

  1. {1, 2, 3} Here distance between farthest points = 3 – 1 = 2 <= L 
  2. {1, 2, 4} Here distance between farthest points = 4 – 1 = 3 <= L 
  3. {1, 3, 4} Here distance between farthest points = 4 – 1 = 3 <= L 
  4. {2, 3, 4} Here distance between farthest points = 4 – 2 = 2 <= L

Thus, total number of ways = 4 

Naive Approach: 
First of all, sort the array of points to generate triplets {a, b, c} such that a and c are the farthest points of the triplet and a < b < c, since all the points are distinct. We can generate all the possible triplets and check for the condition if the distance between the two most distant points in <= L. If it holds we count this way, else we don’t 

Implementation:

C++




// C++ program to count ways to choose
// triplets such that the distance
// between the farthest points <= L
#include<bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Returns the number of triplets with
// distance between farthest points <= L
int countTripletsLessThanL(int n, int L, int* arr)
{
    // sort to get ordered triplets so that we can
    // find the distance between farthest points
    // belonging to a triplet
    sort(arr, arr + n);
 
    int ways = 0;
 
    // generate and check for all possible
    // triplets: {arr[i], arr[j], arr[k]}
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        for (int j = i + 1; j < n; j++) {
            for (int k = j + 1; k < n; k++) {
 
                // Since the array is sorted the
                // farthest points will be a[i]
                // and a[k];
                int mostDistantDistance = arr[k] - arr[i];
                if (mostDistantDistance <= L) {
                    ways++;
                }
            }
        }
    }
 
    return ways;
}
 
// Driver Code
int main()
{
    // set of n points on the X axis
    int arr[] = { 1, 2, 3, 4 };
 
    int n = sizeof(arr) / sizeof(arr[0]);
    int L = 3;
    int ans = countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr);
    cout << "Total Number of ways = " << ans << "\n";
    return 0;
}


Java




// Java program to count ways to choose
// triplets such that the distance
// between the farthest points <= L
import java .io.*;
import java .util.Arrays;
class GFG {
 
    // Returns the number of triplets with
    // distance between farthest points <= L
    static int countTripletsLessThanL(int n, int L,
                                        int []arr)
    {
         
        // sort to get ordered triplets
        // so that we can find the
        // distance between farthest
        // points belonging to a triplet
        Arrays.sort(arr);
     
        int ways = 0;
     
        // generate and check for all possible
        // triplets: {arr[i], arr[j], arr[k]}
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            for (int j = i + 1; j < n; j++) {
                for (int k = j + 1; k < n; k++) {
     
                    // Since the array is sorted the
                    // farthest points will be a[i]
                    // and a[k];
                    int mostDistantDistance =
                                    arr[k] - arr[i];
                    if (mostDistantDistance <= L)
                    {
                        ways++;
                    }
                }
            }
        }
     
        return ways;
    }
 
    // Driver Code
    static public void main (String[] args)
    {
         
        // set of n points on the X axis
        int []arr = {1, 2, 3, 4};
     
        int n =arr.length;
        int L = 3;
        int ans = countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr);
        System.out.println("Total Number of ways = "
                                             + ans);
    }
}
 
// This code is contributed by anuj_67.


Python3




# Python3 program to count ways to choose
# triplets such that the distance
# between the farthest points <= L
 
# Returns the number of triplets with
# distance between farthest points <= L
def countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr):
     
    # sort to get ordered triplets so that
    # we can find the distance between
    # farthest points belonging to a triplet
    arr.sort()
 
    ways = 0
 
    # generate and check for all possible
    # triplets: {arr[i], arr[j], arr[k]}
    for i in range(n):
        for j in range(i + 1, n):
            for k in range(j + 1, n):
 
                # Since the array is sorted the
                # farthest points will be a[i]
                # and a[k];
                mostDistantDistance = arr[k] - arr[i]
                if (mostDistantDistance <= L):
                    ways += 1
 
    return ways
 
# Driver Code
if __name__ == "__main__":
 
    # set of n points on the X axis
    arr = [1, 2, 3, 4 ]
 
    n = len(arr)
    L = 3
    ans = countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr)
    print ("Total Number of ways =", ans)
 
# This code is contributed by ita_c


C#




// C# program to count ways to choose
// triplets such that the distance
// between the farthest points <= L
using System;
class GFG {
 
// Returns the number of triplets with
// distance between farthest points <= L
static int countTripletsLessThanL(int n, int L,
                                     int []arr)
{
     
    // sort to get ordered triplets
    // so that we can find the
    // distance between farthest
    // points belonging to a triplet
    Array.Sort(arr);
 
    int ways = 0;
 
    // generate and check for all possible
    // triplets: {arr[i], arr[j], arr[k]}
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        for (int j = i + 1; j < n; j++) {
            for (int k = j + 1; k < n; k++) {
 
                // Since the array is sorted the
                // farthest points will be a[i]
                // and a[k];
                int mostDistantDistance = arr[k] - arr[i];
                if (mostDistantDistance <= L)
                {
                    ways++;
                }
            }
        }
    }
 
    return ways;
}
 
    // Driver Code
    static public void Main ()
    {
         
        // set of n points on the X axis
        int []arr = {1, 2, 3, 4};
     
        int n =arr.Length;
        int L = 3;
        int ans = countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr);
        Console.WriteLine("Total Number of ways = " + ans);
    }
}
 
// This code is contributed by anuj_67.


PHP




<?php
// PHP program to count ways to choose
// triplets such that the distance
// between the farthest points <= L
 
// Returns the number of triplets with
// distance between farthest points <= L
function countTripletsLessThanL($n, $L, $arr)
{
    // sort to get ordered triplets so that
    // we can find the distance between
    // farthest points belonging to a triplet
    sort($arr);
 
    $ways = 0;
 
    // generate and check for all possible
    // triplets: {arr[i], arr[j], arr[k]}
    for ($i = 0; $i < $n; $i++)
    {
        for ($j = $i + 1; $j < $n; $j++)
        {
            for ($k = $j + 1; $k < $n; $k++)
            {
 
                // Since the array is sorted the
                // farthest points will be a[i]
                // and a[k];
                $mostDistantDistance = $arr[$k] -
                                       $arr[$i];
                if ($mostDistantDistance <= $L)
                {
                    $ways++;
                }
            }
        }
    }
 
    return $ways;
}
 
// Driver Code
 
// set of n points on the X axis
$arr = array( 1, 2, 3, 4 );
 
$n = sizeof($arr);
$L = 3;
$ans = countTripletsLessThanL($n, $L, $arr);
echo "Total Number of ways = " , $ans, "\n";
 
// This code is contributed by akt_mit
?>


Javascript




<script>
 
// javascript program to count ways to choose
// triplets such that the distance
// between the farthest points <= L
 
    // Returns the number of triplets with
    // distance between farthest points <= L
    function countTripletsLessThanL(n , L,  arr)
    {
 
        // sort to get ordered triplets
        // so that we can find the
        // distance between farthest
        // points belonging to a triplet
        arr.sort();
 
        var ways = 0;
 
        // generate and check for all possible
        // triplets: {arr[i], arr[j], arr[k]}
        for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            for (j = i + 1; j < n; j++) {
                for (k = j + 1; k < n; k++) {
 
                    // Since the array is sorted the
                    // farthest points will be a[i]
                    // and a[k];
                    var mostDistantDistance = arr[k] - arr[i];
                    if (mostDistantDistance <= L) {
                        ways++;
                    }
                }
            }
        }
 
        return ways;
    }
 
    // Driver Code
        // set of n points on the X axis
        var arr = [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ];
 
        var n = arr.length;
        var L = 3;
        var ans = countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr);
        document.write("Total Number of ways = " + ans);
 
// This code contributed by Rajput-Ji
 
</script>


Output

Total Number of ways = 4

Time Complexity: O(n3) for generating all possible triplets.
Auxiliary space: O(1) because using constant space for variables
 

Efficient Approach: 

  • This problem can be solved by using Binary search.
  • First of all, sort the array.
  • Now, for each element of the array we find the number of elements which are greater than it(by maintaining a sorted order of points) and lie in the range (xi + 1, xi + L) both inclusive (Note that here all points are distinct so we need consider the elements equal to xi itself).
  • Doing so we find all such points where the distance between the farthest points will always be less than or equal to L.
  • Now let’s say for the ith point, we have M such points which are less than or equal to xi + L, then the number of ways we can select 2 points from M such points is simply 
    M * (M – 1) / 2

Implementation:

C++




// C++ program to count ways to choose
// triplets such that the distance between
// the farthest points <= L */
#include<bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Returns the number of triplets with the
// distance between farthest points <= L
int countTripletsLessThanL(int n, int L, int* arr)
{
    // sort the array
    sort(arr, arr + n);
 
    int ways = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
 
        // find index of element greater than arr[i] + L
        int indexGreater = upper_bound(arr, arr + n,
                                         arr[i] + L) - arr;
 
        // find Number of elements between the ith
        // index and indexGreater since the Numbers
        // are sorted and the elements are distinct
        // from the points btw these indices represent
        // points within range (a[i] + 1 and a[i] + L)
        // both inclusive
 
        int numberOfElements = indexGreater - (i + 1);
 
        // if there are at least two elements in between
        // i and indexGreater find the Number of ways
        // to select two points out of these
 
        if (numberOfElements >= 2) {
            ways += (numberOfElements
                        * (numberOfElements - 1) / 2);
        }
    }
 
    return ways;
}
 
// Driver Code
int main()
{
    // set of n points on the X axis
    int arr[] = { 1, 2, 3, 4 };
 
    int n = sizeof(arr) / sizeof(arr[0]);
    int L = 4;
 
    int ans = countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr);
 
    cout << "Total Number of ways = " << ans << "\n";
 
    return 0;
}


Java




// Java program to count ways to choose
// triplets such that the distance between
// the farthest points <= L */
import java.util.*;
 
class GFG
{
 
// Returns the number of triplets with the
// distance between farthest points <= L
static int countTripletsLessThanL(int n, int L,
                                  int[] arr)
{
    // sort the array
    Arrays.sort(arr);
 
    int ways = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
    {
 
        // find index of element greater than arr[i] + L
        int indexGreater = upper_bound(arr, 0, n,
                                       arr[i] + L);
 
        // find Number of elements between the ith
        // index and indexGreater since the Numbers
        // are sorted and the elements are distinct
        // from the points btw these indices represent
        // points within range (a[i] + 1 and a[i] + L)
        // both inclusive
        int numberOfElements = indexGreater - (i + 1);
 
        // if there are at least two elements in between
        // i and indexGreater find the Number of ways
        // to select two points out of these
 
        if (numberOfElements >= 2)
        {
            ways += (numberOfElements *
                    (numberOfElements - 1) / 2);
        }
    }
    return ways;
}
 
static int upper_bound(int[] a, int low,
                       int high, int element)
{
    while(low < high)
    {
        int middle = low + (high - low) / 2;
        if(a[middle] > element)
            high = middle;
        else
            low = middle + 1;
    }
    return low;
}
 
// Driver Code
public static void main(String[] args)
{
    // set of n points on the X axis
    int arr[] = { 1, 2, 3, 4 };
 
    int n = arr.length;
    int L = 4;
 
    int ans = countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr);
 
    System.out.println("Total Number of ways = " + ans);
}
}
 
// This code is contributed by 29AjayKumar


Python3




# Python program to count ways to choose
# triplets such that the distance between
# the farthest points <= L '''
 
 
# Returns the number of triplets with the
# distance between farthest points <= L
def countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr):
    # sort the array
    arr = sorted(arr);
 
    ways = 0;
    for i in range(n):
 
        # find index of element greater than arr[i] + L
        indexGreater = upper_bound(arr, 0, n, arr[i] + L);
 
        # find Number of elements between the ith
        # index and indexGreater since the Numbers
        # are sorted and the elements are distinct
        # from the points btw these indices represent
        # points within range (a[i] + 1 and a[i] + L)
        # both inclusive
        numberOfElements = indexGreater - (i + 1);
 
        # if there are at least two elements in between
        # i and indexGreater find the Number of ways
        # to select two points out of these
 
        if (numberOfElements >= 2):
            ways += (numberOfElements * (numberOfElements - 1) / 2);
 
    return ways;
 
 
def upper_bound(a, low, high, element):
    while (low < high):
        middle = int(low + (high - low) / 2);
        if (a[middle] > element):
            high = middle;
        else:
            low = middle + 1;
 
    return low;
 
 
# Driver Code
if __name__ == '__main__':
    # set of n points on the X axis
    arr = [1, 2, 3, 4];
 
    n = len(arr);
    L = 4;
 
    ans = countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr);
 
    print("Total Number of ways = " , ans);
 
    # This code is contributed by 29AjayKumar


C#




// C# program to count ways to choose
// triplets such that the distance between
// the farthest points <= L */
using System;
 
class GFG
{
 
// Returns the number of triplets with the
// distance between farthest points <= L
static int countTripletsLessThanL(int n, int L,
                                int[] arr)
{
    // sort the array
    Array.Sort(arr);
 
    int ways = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
    {
 
        // find index of element greater than arr[i] + L
        int indexGreater = upper_bound(arr, 0, n,
                                    arr[i] + L);
 
        // find Number of elements between the ith
        // index and indexGreater since the Numbers
        // are sorted and the elements are distinct
        // from the points btw these indices represent
        // points within range (a[i] + 1 and a[i] + L)
        // both inclusive
        int numberOfElements = indexGreater - (i + 1);
 
        // if there are at least two elements in between
        // i and indexGreater find the Number of ways
        // to select two points out of these
        if (numberOfElements >= 2)
        {
            ways += (numberOfElements *
                    (numberOfElements - 1) / 2);
        }
    }
    return ways;
}
 
static int upper_bound(int[] a, int low,
                    int high, int element)
{
    while(low < high)
    {
        int middle = low + (high - low) / 2;
        if(a[middle] > element)
            high = middle;
        else
            low = middle + 1;
    }
    return low;
}
 
// Driver Code
public static void Main(String[] args)
{
    // set of n points on the X axis
    int []arr = { 1, 2, 3, 4 };
 
    int n = arr.Length;
    int L = 4;
 
    int ans = countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr);
 
    Console.WriteLine("Total Number of ways = " + ans);
}
}
 
// This code is contributed by PrinciRaj1992


Javascript




<script>
 
// Javascript program to count ways to choose
// triplets such that the distance between
// the farthest points <= L
 
// Returns the number of triplets with the
// distance between farthest points <= L
function countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr)
{
     
    // Sort the array
    arr.sort(function(a, b){return a - b});
 
    let ways = 0;
    for(let i = 0; i < n; i++)
    {
         
        // Find index of element greater
        // than arr[i] + L
        let indexGreater = upper_bound(arr, 0, n,
                                       arr[i] + L);
 
        // Find Number of elements between the ith
        // index and indexGreater since the Numbers
        // are sorted and the elements are distinct
        // from the points btw these indices represent
        // points within range (a[i] + 1 and a[i] + L)
        // both inclusive
        let numberOfElements = indexGreater - (i + 1);
 
        // If there are at least two elements in between
        // i and indexGreater find the Number of ways
        // to select two points out of these
        if (numberOfElements >= 2)
        {
            ways += (numberOfElements *
                    (numberOfElements - 1) / 2);
        }
    }
    return ways;
}
 
function upper_bound(a, low, high, element)
{
    while(low < high)
    {
        let middle = low +
          parseInt((high - low) / 2, 10);
           
        if (a[middle] > element)
            high = middle;
        else
            low = middle + 1;
    }
    return low;
}
 
// Driver code
 
// Set of n points on the X axis
let arr = [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ];
let n = arr.length;
let L = 4;
 
let ans = countTripletsLessThanL(n, L, arr);
 
document.write("Total Number of ways = " + ans);
 
// This code is contributed by suresh07
 
</script>


Output

Total Number of ways = 4

Time Complexity: O(NlogN) where N is the number of points. 
Auxiliary Space: O(1) because using constant space for variables.



Last Updated : 25 Oct, 2022
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