Friday's Coding Challenge

PIEBALDconsult

SELECT TOP n FROM Sample ORDER BY Value Edit: How should we handle duplicates?

Bassam Abdul Baki

In English, select the first n numbers, sort them, then check the next m - n numbers to compare with the largest n number. Delete the old nth number and insert the new one in the right order.

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Chris Maunder

The funny thing was that when I drafted the question I was thinking about all the smart comments that would be made and so I added "programming" before the word "language". But then thought: Nah - no one would answer with an English sentence. :doh:

cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP

Chris Maunder

Not necessarily, but sure, if you want to restrict it to ints.

cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP

Chris Maunder

You took the easy one ;)

PIEBALDconsult wrote:

How should we handle duplicates

Be creative. How does SQL handle them?

cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP

Bassam Abdul Baki

Would you prefer an answer in Excel? :D

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realJSOP

Assuming sample is an array of numbers:

int smallest = Array.Sort(sample)[0];

".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997

BobJanova

APL:

f←{⍺↑⍵⌷⍨⍋⍵}

call like

n f (sample vector)

eg

f←{⍺↑⍵⌷⍨⍋⍵}
{f}
xx←20?30 // 20 different ints in 1-30
(23 28 14 12 10 8 15 3 2 7 26 4 20 29 24 30 25 18 21 27)
10 f xx // smallest 10 values in xx
(2 3 4 7 8 10 12 14 15 18)

This is in my personal dialect since I don't have a licensed major APL on this machine, but the function is essentially the same in normal variants.

Ennis Ray Lynch Jr

Smallest in source lines or smallest in compiled output?

Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost

realJSOP

Based on the way the task was phrased, I think it's safe to assume we're talking numeric values, but the intrinsic type is of no real consequence in the actual mechanics of the task.

".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997

Simon_Whale

I have assumed a list of integers

List Numbers = new List();
Random r = new Random(10);

for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
Numbers.Add(r.Next(0, 100));
}

Numbers.Sort();
var Values = Number.Take(5);

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Nagy Vilmos

int[] smallest (int[] args, int count) {
int[] copy = java.util.Arrays.copyOf(args,args.length);
java.util.Arrays.sort(copy);
return java.util.Arrays.copyOf(args, count);
}

If you don't need it to preserve the original order, then you can drop the first line. This is safe for count > args.length.

Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

Chris Maunder

You may want to read the specs again.

cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP

Chris Maunder

Source.

cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP

Chris Maunder

That's 1 line too many ;)

cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP

Slacker007

Chris Maunder wrote:

I was thinking about all the smart comments that would be made

Well Chris, you remember how the last challenge went. :)

"the meat from that butcher is just the dogs danglies, absolutely amazing cuts of beef." - DaveAuld (2011)
"No, that is just the earthly manifestation of the Great God Retardon." - Nagy Vilmos (2011) "It is the celestial scrotum of good luck!" - Nagy Vilmos (2011)

Dalek Dave

As an accountant I would suggest...

Range("A:A").Select
ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets("Sheet1").Sort.SortFields.Clear
ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets("Sheet1").Sort.SortFields.Add Key:=Range("A1"), SortOn:=xlSortOnValues, Order:=xlAscending, DataOption:=xlSortNormal
With ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets("Sheet1").Sort
    .SetRange Range("A:A")
    .Header = xlNo
    .MatchCase = False
    .Orientation = xlTopToBottom
    .SortMethod = xlPinYin
    .Apply
End With
Range("C1").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "=RC\[-2\]"
Range("C2").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "=COUNTIF(R\[-1\]C\[-2\]:R\[17\]C\[-2\],R\[-1\]C)"
Range("C3").Select

That that is accountants all over!

--------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^] English League Tables - Live

Chris Maunder

My eyes! They burn!

cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP

Nagy Vilmos

That's uglier than my photo!

Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

Chris Maunder

Yes, like the weekly surveys, they are merely pedant fodder. :)

cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP