Wednesday, July 3, 2024
HomeData ModellingData Structure & AlgorithmLength of the longest alternating subarray

Length of the longest alternating subarray

Given an array of N including positive and negative numbers only. The task is to find the length of the longest alternating (means negative-positive-negative or positive-negative-positive) subarray present in the array. 

Examples: 

Input: a[] = {-5, -1, -1, 2, -2, -3}
Output: 3 
The subarray {-1, 2, -2} 

Input: a[] = {1, -5, 1, -5}
Output: 4 

Approach: The following steps are followed to solve the problem: 

  • Initially initialize cnt as 1.
  • Iterate among the array elements, and check if it has an alternate sign.
  • Increase the cnt by 1 if it has an alternate sign.
  • If it does not has an alternate sign, then re-initialize cnt by 1.

Below is the implementation of the above approach: 

C++




// C++ program to find the longest alternating
// subarray in an array of N number
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to find the longest subarray
int longestAlternatingSubarray(int a[], int n)
{
    // Length of longest alternating
    int longest = 1;
    int cnt = 1;
 
    // Iterate in the array
    for (int i = 1; i < n; i++) {
 
        // Check for alternate
        if (a[i] * a[i - 1] < 0) {
            cnt++;
            longest = max(longest, cnt);
        }
        else
            cnt = 1;
    }
    return longest;
}
 
/* Driver program to test above functions*/
int main()
{
    int a[] = { -5, -1, -1, 2, -2, -3 };
    int n = sizeof(a) / sizeof(a[0]);
 
    // Function to find the longest subarray
    cout << longestAlternatingSubarray(a, n);
    return 0;
}


Java




// Java program to find the longest alternating
// subarray in an array of N number
class GFG
{
 
    // Function to find the longest subarray
    static int longestAlternatingSubarray(int a[], int n)
    {
        // Length of longest alternating
        int longest = 1;
        int cnt = 1;
     
        // Iterate in the array
        for (int i = 1; i < n; i++)
        {
     
            // Check for alternate
            if (a[i] * a[i - 1] < 0)
            {
                cnt++;
                longest = Math.max(longest, cnt);
            }
            else
                cnt = 1;
        }
        return longest;
    }
     
    /* Driver program to test above functions*/
    public static void main (String[] args)
    {
        int a[] = { -5, -1, -1, 2, -2, -3 };
        int n = a.length ;
     
        // Function to find the longest subarray
        System.out.println(longestAlternatingSubarray(a, n));
    }
}
 
// This code is contributed by Ryuga


Python 3




# Python3 program to find the longest alternating
# subarray in an array of N number
 
# Function to find the longest subarray
def longestAlternatingSubarray(a, n):
     
    # Length of longest alternating
    longest = 1
    cnt = 1
 
    # Iterate in the array
    i = 1
    while i < n:
 
        # Check for alternate
        if (a[i] * a[i - 1] < 0):
            cnt = cnt + 1
            longest = max(longest, cnt)
         
        else:
            cnt = 1
        i = i + 1
     
    return longest
 
# Driver Code
a = [ -5, -1, -1, 2, -2, -3 ]
n = len(a)
 
# Function to find the longest subarray
print(longestAlternatingSubarray(a, n))
 
# This code is contributed
# by shashank_sharma


C#




// C# program to find the longest alternating
// subarray in an array of N number
using System;
class GFG
{
 
// Function to find the longest subarray
static int longestAlternatingSubarray(int []a,
                                      int n)
{
    // Length of longest alternating
    int longest = 1;
    int cnt = 1;
 
    // Iterate in the array
    for (int i = 1; i < n; i++)
    {
 
        // Check for alternate
        if (a[i] * a[i - 1] < 0)
        {
            cnt++;
            longest = Math.Max(longest, cnt);
        }
        else
            cnt = 1;
    }
    return longest;
}
 
// Driver Code
public static void Main()
{
    int []a = { -5, -1, -1, 2, -2, -3 };
    int n = a.Length;
 
    // Function to find the longest subarray
    Console.Write(longestAlternatingSubarray(a, n));
}
}
 
// This code is contributed
// by Akanksha Rai


PHP




<?php
// PHP program to find the longest alternating
// subarray in an array of N number
 
// Function to find the longest subarray
function longestAlternatingSubarray($a, $n)
{
     
    // Length of longest alternating
    $longest = 1;
    $cnt = 1;
 
    // Iterate in the array
    for ($i = 1; $i < $n; $i++)
    {
 
        // Check for alternate
        if ($a[$i] * $a[$i - 1] < 0)
        {
            $cnt++;
            $longest = max($longest, $cnt);
        }
        else
            $cnt = 1;
    }
    return $longest;
}
 
// Driver Code
$a = array(-5, -1, -1, 2, -2, -3 );
$n = sizeof($a);
 
// Function to find the longest subarray
echo longestAlternatingSubarray($a, $n);
 
// This code is contributed by akt_mit
?>


Javascript




<script>
// JavaScript program to find the longest alternating
// subarray in an array of N number
 
// Function to find the longest subarray
function longestAlternatingSubarray(a, n)
{
 
    // Length of longest alternating
    let longest = 1;
    let cnt = 1;
 
    // Iterate in the array
    for (let i = 1; i < n; i++) {
 
        // Check for alternate
        if (a[i] * a[i - 1] < 0) {
            cnt++;
            longest = Math.max(longest, cnt);
        }
        else
            cnt = 1;
    }
    return longest;
}
 
/* Driver program to test above functions*/
    let a = [ -5, -1, -1, 2, -2, -3 ];
    let n = a.length;
 
    // Function to find the longest subarray
    document.write(longestAlternatingSubarray(a, n));
 
// This code is contributed by Surbhi Tyagi.
</script>


Output

3

Complexity Analysis:

  • Time Complexity: O(N), as we are using a loop to traverse N times. Where N is the number of elements in the array.
  • Auxiliary Space: O(1), as we are not using any extra space.

Feeling lost in the world of random DSA topics, wasting time without progress? It’s time for a change! Join our DSA course, where we’ll guide you on an exciting journey to master DSA efficiently and on schedule.
Ready to dive in? Explore our Free Demo Content and join our DSA course, trusted by over 100,000 neveropen!

Shaida Kate Naidoo
am passionate about learning the latest technologies available to developers in either a Front End or Back End capacity. I enjoy creating applications that are well designed and responsive, in addition to being user friendly. I thrive in fast paced environments. With a diverse educational and work experience background, I excel at collaborating with teams both local and international. A versatile developer with interests in Software Development and Software Engineering. I consider myself to be adaptable and a self motivated learner. I am interested in new programming technologies, and continuous self improvement.
RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

Recent Comments