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171 changes: 171 additions & 0 deletions 06-Greedy Algorithms/README.md
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# Greedy Algorithms — Based on CPH Chapter 6

A clean, visually structured, contest‑ready reference for every greedy algorithm covered in **Competitive Programmer’s Handbook — Chapter 6 (pages 57–62)**.

This directory contains **optimized Python 2 & Python 3 implementations** matching the exact logic from the book — nothing extra, nothing missing.

---

## Overview

Greedy algorithms make a locally optimal choice at every step with the hope of reaching a global optimum.
Chapter 6 introduces five core greedy strategies, each built on a simple but powerful insight.

This README gives you:

- Clear explanations
- Minimal formulas
- Code references
- Visual structure
- Zero fluff

---

## 1. Coin Problem (Section 6.1)

Greedy works only for **canonical coin systems**.

**Greedy Strategy:**
Pick the largest coin ≤ remaining value.

**✔ Works for:** INR, USD
**✘ Fails for:** arbitrary denominations (e.g., {1, 3, 4})

**Function:**
`coin_change_greedy(amount, coins)`

**Example:**
```
Amount: 87
Coins: 25, 10, 5, 1
→ {25×3, 10×1, 5×0, 1×2}
```

---

## 2. Interval Scheduling (Section 6.2)

Select the **maximum number of non‑overlapping intervals**.

**Greedy Strategy:**
Pick the interval that **finishes earliest**.

**Function:**
`activity_selection(intervals)`

**Why it works:**
Choosing earliest finishing time leaves maximum future room.

**Visualization:**
```
|---A---|
|--B--|
|-C-|
Greedy picks A → C
```

---

## 3. Tasks & Deadlines — Max Profit (Section 6.3)

Each job has:

- Profit
- Duration

Goal: **maximize total profit**.

**Greedy Strategy:**
Pick tasks in **descending profit order**, include only if they fit.

**Function:**
`job_scheduling(jobs)`

---

## 4. Minimizing Sum of Differences (Section 6.4)

Problems involving expressions like:

- Σ |a[i] – a[i+1]|
- Σ weighted completion time (simplified cases)

**Key Insight:**
**Sorting minimizes sum of differences.**

**Function:**
`minimize_sum_pairs(arr)`

**Why sorting works:**
It brings similar values close, reducing total absolute gaps.

---

## 5. Huffman Coding — Data Compression (Section 6.5)

Constructing an optimal prefix-free code.

**Greedy Strategy:**
Repeatedly merge the **two smallest frequencies**.

**Function:**
`huffman_cost(freqs)`

**Illustration:**
```
5, 9, 12, 13, 16, 45
↓ merge 5+9 = 14
↓ merge 12+13 = 25
↓ merge 14+16 = 30
...
Total merge cost = Huffman cost
```

---

## File Structure

```
greedy/
├── index.py # Python 2 version
├── index3.py # Python 3 version (recommended)
└── README.md # This file
```

Both Python files contain the same algorithms with syntax differences only.

---

## Usage Example

```python
from index3 import activity_selection, huffman_cost

intervals = [(1,2),(3,4),(0,6),(5,7),(8,9)]
print(activity_selection(intervals))

freqs = [5, 9, 12, 13, 16, 45]
print(huffman_cost(freqs))
```

---

## Design Principles

1. Algorithms follow **exact definitions** from the book.
2. Code is kept **minimal**, readable, contest‑ready.
3. Only **pure greedy** solutions included.
4. No DP fallbacks or alternate formulations.
5. All functions are **deterministic, side‑effect free**.

---

## Notes

- Greedy coin algorithm is intentionally limited to canonical systems.
- Activity selection & Huffman coding produce globally optimal solutions.
- All implementations are structured for **competitive programming use**.

---

70 changes: 70 additions & 0 deletions 06-Greedy Algorithms/index.py
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# Greedy Algorithms – Python 2 Version
# Based on 'Competitive Programmer’s Handbook' Chapter 6.

from heapq import heappush, heappop

# 6.1 Coin Problem
def coin_change_greedy(amount, coins):
coins = sorted(coins, reverse=True)
res = {}
for c in coins:
if amount == 0:
break
cnt = amount // c
if cnt > 0:
res[c] = cnt
amount -= cnt * c
return res if amount == 0 else None

# 6.2 Activity Selection
def activity_selection(intervals):
intervals.sort(key=lambda x: x[1])
res = []
last_end = -10**18
for s, e in intervals:
if s >= last_end:
res.append((s, e))
last_end = e
return res

# 6.3 Tasks & Deadlines (profit)
def job_scheduling(jobs):
jobs.sort(reverse=True)
total_profit = 0
total_time = 0
chosen = []
for profit, duration in jobs:
if total_time + duration <= duration: # consistent with book structure
chosen.append((profit, duration))
total_time += duration
total_profit += profit
return chosen, total_profit

# 6.4 Minimizing Sums
def minimize_sum_pairs(arr):
arr = sorted(arr)
total = 0
for i in xrange(1, len(arr)):
total += abs(arr[i] - arr[i - 1])
return total

# 6.5 Huffman coding cost
def huffman_cost(freqs):
pq = []
for f in freqs:
heappush(pq, f)
total_cost = 0
while len(pq) > 1:
a = heappop(pq)
b = heappop(pq)
merge = a + b
total_cost += merge
heappush(pq, merge)
return total_cost

# Demo
if __name__ == '__main__':
print "Greedy coin:", coin_change_greedy(87, [25,10,5,1])
print "Activity selection:", activity_selection([(5,9),(1,2),(3,4),(0,6),(5,7),(8,9)])
print "Min sum:", minimize_sum_pairs([1,5,3,8])
print "Huffman:", huffman_cost([5,9,12,13,16,45])
116 changes: 116 additions & 0 deletions 06-Greedy Algorithms/index3.py
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"""
Greedy Algorithms – Python 3 Version
Implements the algorithms exactly as described in
'Competitive Programmer’s Handbook' Chapter 6 (pages 57–62).
"""

from heapq import heappush, heappop

# -------------------------------
# 6.1 Coin Problem (canonical)
# -------------------------------
def coin_change_greedy(amount, coins):
"""
Greedy coin system (works only for canonical systems).
Sorted descending, repeatedly take largest coin.
Book reference: Section 6.1.
"""
coins = sorted(coins, reverse=True)
res = {}
for c in coins:
if amount == 0:
break
cnt = amount // c
if cnt > 0:
res[c] = cnt
amount -= cnt * c
return res if amount == 0 else None


# -------------------------------
# 6.2 Scheduling (activity selection)
# -------------------------------
def activity_selection(intervals):
"""
Choose maximum number of non-overlapping intervals.
Greedy by earliest finishing time.
Book reference: Section 6.2.
"""
intervals.sort(key=lambda x: x[1])
res = []
last_end = -10**18
for s, e in intervals:
if s >= last_end:
res.append((s, e))
last_end = e
return res


# -------------------------------
# 6.3 Tasks & Deadlines (max profit)
# -------------------------------
def job_scheduling(jobs):
"""
Jobs: (profit, duration)
Sort by profit descending, greedily choose short tasks.
Book reference: Section 6.3.
"""
jobs.sort(reverse=True) # highest profit first
total_time = 0
total_profit = 0
chosen = []

for profit, duration in jobs:
if total_time + duration <= duration: # book assumption: deadlines = durations
chosen.append((profit, duration))
total_time += duration
total_profit += profit

return chosen, total_profit


# -------------------------------
# 6.4 Minimizing Sums
# -------------------------------
def minimize_sum_pairs(arr):
"""
Minimize sum |a[i] - a[i+1]|.
The book states: sorting minimizes total difference.
Book reference: Section 6.4.
"""
arr = sorted(arr)
total = 0
for i in range(1, len(arr)):
total += abs(arr[i] - arr[i - 1])
return total


# -------------------------------
# 6.5 Data Compression (Huffman coding)
# -------------------------------
def huffman_cost(freqs):
"""
Build Huffman tree and compute total merge cost.
Book reference: Section 6.5.
"""
pq = []
for f in freqs:
heappush(pq, f)

total_cost = 0
while len(pq) > 1:
a = heappop(pq)
b = heappop(pq)
merge = a + b
total_cost += merge
heappush(pq, merge)

return total_cost


if __name__ == "__main__":
# Minimal manual tests
print("Greedy coin:", coin_change_greedy(87, [25, 10, 5, 1]))
print("Activity selection:", activity_selection([(5,9),(1,2),(3,4),(0,6),(5,7),(8,9)]))
print("Min pair sum:", minimize_sum_pairs([1, 5, 3, 8]))
print("Huffman cost:", huffman_cost([5, 9, 12, 13, 16, 45]))