Wave Form Sorting
Detailed guide and Python implementation for the 'Wave Form Sorting' problem.
1. Concept Overview
The 'Wave Form Sorting' problem is a key challenge in the Arrays section.
This implementation focuses on easy-level logic in Python.
We prioritize technical accuracy and code readability in our provided solutions.
2. Real-World Applications
3. Visual Intuition
Visualizing the logic flow for Wave Form Sorting.
4. Prerequisites
5. Step-by-Step Thinking
1. Understand the problem
Read the problem statement for Wave Form Sorting carefully.
2. Formulate brute force
Draft a simple iterative solution.
3. Identify inefficiency
Look for redundant calculations.
4. Optimize search path
Use hashing or sorting to speed up the process.
5. Final Implementation
Clean up the code for production standards.
Problem Statement
Write a function wave_sort(arr) that sorts an array of integers arr in place or returns a sorted version in wave form, such that arr[0] >= arr[1] <= arr[2] >= arr[3] <= arr[4]....
- •1 <= len(arr) <= 1000
- •-10^4 <= arr[i] <= 10^4
Examples
arr = [10, 5, 6, 3, 2, 20, 100, 80]
[10, 5, 6, 2, 20, 3, 100, 80]
The output elements satisfy wave pattern: 10 >= 5 <= 6 >= 2 <= 20 >= 3 <= 100 >= 80.
Need a Hint?
Edge Cases to Watch
- Empty input structures
- Single element inputs
- Large numerical bounds
Ready to Solve?
Open the problem in PyRun's browser-based Python editor. Your code runs fully offline — no server required.
Interview Insights & Variations
Complexity Analysis Breakdown
Why Time: Directly evaluates all possibilities.
Why Space: Uses standard local memory.
Why Time: Optimized paths reduce total operations.
Why Space: May trade memory for speed.
Optimized Solution Python Code
Optimized Solution Python Code
def wave_sort_opt(arr):
for i in range(0, len(arr), 2):
if i > 0 and arr[i-1] > arr[i]: arr[i], arr[i-1] = arr[i-1], arr[i]
if i < len(arr)-1 and arr[i+1] > arr[i]: arr[i], arr[i+1] = arr[i+1], arr[i]
return arrBrute Force Code (Spoiler Guarded)
Brute Force Code (Spoiler Guarded)
def wave_sort_brute(arr):
arr.sort()
for i in range(0, len(arr) - 1, 2):
arr[i], arr[i+1] = arr[i+1], arr[i]
return arrAlgorithm Pattern Checklist
When dealing with Arrays data patterns.
Core Prerequisites
Revision Key Notes
Common Mistakes & Pitfalls
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