Mastering Google Kickstart's Shuffled Anagram Problem

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding the Problem
3. Approaches to Solve the Problem
   • Backtracking Approach
   • Intuitive Approach
4. Pseudo Code for the Intuitive Approach
5. Conclusion
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Article

Introduction

In this article, we will be discussing a problem from the Google Kickstart Round E called "Shuffled Anagram." We will explore different approaches to solve the problem efficiently and provide a pseudo code for the most intuitive approach. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of the problem and the steps involved in its solution.

Understanding the Problem

The problem revolves around finding a shuffled anagram of a given string. A shuffled anagram is a string that contains the same letters as the original string but in a different order. For example, the word "kick" has shuffled anagrams like "kci", "kic", etc. The goal is to output any one shuffled anagram of the given string, or print "impossible" if it cannot be done.

Approaches to Solve the Problem

There are multiple approaches to solve the shuffled anagram problem. One approach is through backtracking, where we recursively generate different permutations of the string until we find a valid shuffled anagram. However, this approach can be time-consuming and may not be optimal for large strings.

Another approach, which we will focus on, is the intuitive approach. It involves iterating through each character of the given string and swapping it with another character in a specific position to create a shuffled anagram.

Pseudo Code for the Intuitive Approach

To implement the intuitive approach, we can follow the following pseudo code:

temp = copy of the original string

for i in range(len(s)):
  if s[i] == temp[i]:
    continue

  for j in range(i+1, len(s)):
    if s[i] != temp[j] and s[j] != temp[i]:
      swap temp[i] and temp[j]
      break

return temp

This pseudo code ensures that each character in the shuffled anagram is obtained by swapping it with another character in a different position. By applying these swaps iteratively, we can obtain a shuffled anagram of the given string.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the shuffled anagram problem requires finding a shuffled anagram of a given string or determining if it is impossible to create one. We have explored the intuitive approach to solve this problem efficiently. By following the pseudo code provided, you can obtain a shuffled anagram from the given string. In case you encounter any doubts or questions, feel free to reach out through the comments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I use the backtracking approach instead of the intuitive approach?

A: Yes, you can use the backtracking approach to solve the shuffled anagram problem. However, it may be time-consuming and may not be optimal for large strings.

Q: Is it always possible to create a shuffled anagram from any given string?

A: No, it is not always possible to create a shuffled anagram. If any character in the string has an occurrence greater than half the size of the string, it cannot be shuffled.

Q: Is the intuitive approach more efficient than the backtracking approach?

A: Yes, the intuitive approach is generally more efficient compared to the backtracking approach since it involves fewer operations and avoids unnecessary recursive calls.