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question:You are given an array of integers. Your task is to write a function that finds the second smallest number in the array. The function should return the second smallest number. If the array has fewer than two unique numbers, the function should return `None`. Your solution should handle both positive and negative integers. **Examples:** ``` find_second_smallest([1, 2, 3, 4, 5]) => 2 find_second_smallest([5, 5, 5, 5, 5]) => None find_second_smallest([10, 5, 1, 3, 4]) => 3 find_second_smallest([-1, -2, -3, -4]) => -3 find_second_smallest([1]) => None find_second_smallest([2, 1, 2, 1, 3]) => 2 ``` Write the function `find_second_smallest(array)`.
answer:def find_second_smallest(array): Finds the second smallest number in the given array. If the array has fewer than two unique numbers, returns None. if len(array) < 2: return None unique_numbers = list(set(array)) if len(unique_numbers) < 2: return None unique_numbers.sort() return unique_numbers[1]
question:Write a function that takes two integers as inputs and returns the greatest common divisor (GCD) of those two numbers. Your solution should be efficient with respect to time complexity. Avoid using built-in functions that directly compute the GCD. # Example: ```python gcd(48, 18) -> 6 gcd(100, 25) -> 25 gcd(7, 3) -> 1 ``` # Hint: Consider using the Euclidean algorithm, which is efficient for finding the GCD of two numbers. The algorithm is based on the principle that the GCD of two numbers also divides their difference.
answer:def gcd(a, b): Returns the greatest common divisor (GCD) of two integers a and b using the Euclidean algorithm. while b != 0: a, b = b, a % b return abs(a)
question:=====Problem Statement===== Write a function that determines if it is possible to rearrange the characters of a given string to form a palindrome. If rearrangement is possible, return True; otherwise, return False. =====Input Format===== A single string, s, consisting of only lowercase English letters. =====Constraints===== 1 ≤ len(s) ≤ 1000 =====Output Format===== Return True if the characters of the string can be rearranged to form a palindrome; otherwise, return False. =====Sample Input===== aabb =====Sample Output===== True =====Explanation===== The characters of the string 'aabb' can be rearranged to form the palindrome 'abba'.
answer:def can_form_palindrome(s): Determines if it is possible to rearrange the characters of a given string to form a palindrome. Args: s (str): The input string Returns: bool: True if it is possible to rearrange the characters to form a palindrome, False otherwise. from collections import Counter # Count characters in the string char_count = Counter(s) # Count characters with odd occurrences odd_count = sum(1 for count in char_count.values() if count % 2 != 0) # A string can form a palindrome if it has at most one character with an odd count return odd_count <= 1
question:Suzuki needs help packing his library! Suzuki has a collection of books that he needs to pack into boxes. Each book has a different weight, and he wants to distribute the weights as evenly as possible across all boxes. You will be given a list of integers representing the weights of each book and an integer representing the number of boxes. Your goal is to return a list of lists, where each inner list represents the books packed into a single box. The weights in each box should be distributed as evenly as possible. Example input: ```python weights = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10] num_boxes = 3 ``` Example output from your function: ```python boxes = [[10, 1], [9, 2], [8, 3], [7, 4], [6, 5]] ``` Additional details: - Books should be packed in such a way that the difference in total weight between the heaviest and lightest box is minimized. - It is not required to keep the relative order of books from the input list as long as the optimal packing condition is met. Here is another example input: ```python weights = [10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1] num_boxes = 2 ``` Returns: ```python boxes = [[10, 9, 8, 1], [7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2]] ``` Try and adjust your algorithm to ensure the volition of weights and boxes is maintained.
answer:def pack_books(weights, num_boxes): Distribute the weights as evenly as possible across the given number of boxes. Parameters: weights (List[int]): List of book weights. num_boxes (int): Number of boxes. Returns: List[List[int]]: A list of lists, where each inner list contains the weights packed into a single box. # Sort weights in descending order sorted_weights = sorted(weights, reverse=True) # Initialize boxes boxes = [[] for _ in range(num_boxes)] box_weights = [0] * num_boxes # Distribute weights for weight in sorted_weights: # Find the box with the least total weight min_index = box_weights.index(min(box_weights)) # Add the current weight to that box boxes[min_index].append(weight) box_weights[min_index] += weight return boxes