Finding two non-subsequent elements in array which sum is minimal

Question

Intro: As far as I could search, this question wasn\'t asked in SO yet.
This is an interview question.
I am not even specifically looking for a code sol

Answer 1

I have used dynamic programming to solve it.

Idea is to first create the array which tracks the minimum found till now as below: Input array = [1, 3, 0, 5, 6] Minimum array = [1, 1, 0, 0, 0]

Now using the minimum array and the input array we can use below:

DP[i] = min(DP[i-1], min(first_data, second_data))

where DP[i] means the minimum found till now which is sum of two previous alternate elements.

first_data = sum of current element in input array + sum of current-2 element in minimum array

second_data = sum of current-1 element in input array + sum of current-3 element in minimum array

    import random
    def get_min(numbers):
            #disregard the first and last element
            numbers = numbers[1:len(numbers)-1]
            #for remembering the past results
            DP = [0]*len(numbers)
            #for keeping track of minimum till now found
            table = [0]*len(numbers)
            high_number = 1 << 30

            min_number = numbers[0]
            table[0] = min_number
            for i in range(0, len(numbers)):
                    DP[i] = high_number
            for i in range(1, len(numbers)):
                    if numbers[i] < min_number:
                            min_number = numbers[i]
                            table[i] = numbers[i]
                    else:
                            table[i] = min_number
            for i in range(0, len(numbers)):
                    min_first, min_second = high_number, high_number
                    if i >= 2:
                            min_first = numbers[i] + table[i-2]
                    if i >= 3:
                            min_second = numbers[i-1] + table[i-3]
                    if i >= 1:
                            DP[i] = min(min(DP[i-1], min_first), min_second)
            return DP[len(numbers)-1]

    input = random.sample(range(100), 10)
    print(input)
    print(get_min(input))