How to Find the Bitwise OR of Adjacent Elements in an Array?
When working with arrays in programming, you might encounter questions about performing bitwise operations on adjacent elements. A common task is calculating the bitwise OR for pairs of neighboring elements throughout an array. This operation can be useful in many algorithms, such as data compression, pattern detection, or optimizing certain calculations.
To understand how to perform the bitwise OR of adjacent elements, let's first review what the bitwise OR operation does. The bitwise OR compares corresponding bits of two numbers and results in 1 if either of the bits is 1, otherwise 0. For example:
- 5 in binary: 0101
- 3 in binary: 0011
Their bitwise OR: 0101 | 0011 = 0111, which is 7 in decimal.
Suppose you want to perform this operation for each pair of neighboring elements in an array. For example, for the array [4, 2, 7, 3], the process would be:
- OR of 4 and 2
- OR of 2 and 7
- OR of 7 and 3
Let's see how to implement this in plain code:
Python
Expected output:
Html
Here's an explanation:
- 4 (0100) OR 2 (0010) = 0110 (6)
- 2 (0010) OR 7 (0111) = 0111 (7)
- 7 (0111) OR 3 (0011) = 0111 (7)
This pattern can be used efficiently with different programming languages. The key is looping through the array indices up to the second last element, performing the OR operation with the next element, and collecting the results.
In many coding interviews, it's essential not only to produce the correct output but also to write code concisely. Here’s a more compact version using list comprehension:
Python
This line creates a list of OR values for each pair of adjacent elements directly, making the code shorter and cleaner.
This concept extends beyond just two elements. Sometimes, you might need to perform a series of OR operations on the entire array or on specific segments. Understanding how to access and manipulate adjacent pairs introduces flexibility in handling various problems, such as merging ranges or serial data processing.
In addition to Python, similar logic applies in other languages such as C++, Java, or JavaScript. The syntax may differ—for instance, using a for loop in C++:
Cpp
This straightforward method simplifies the task of pairwise bitwise OR operations. Mastery of these techniques helps in solving a variety of problems efficiently during coding interviews.
