Find missing element in a sorted array of consecutive numbers in C++

Concept

With respect of a given array array[] of n distinct integers, elements are placed sequentially in ascending order with one missing element. Our task is to determine the missing element.

Input

array[] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9}

Output

8

Input

array[] = {-4, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2}

Output

-3

Input

array[] = {1, 2, 3, 4}

Output

-1

No element is missing.

Method

Principles

• Look for inconsistency: According to this principle, the difference between any element and its index must be array[0] for every element.

Example,

A[] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} -> Consistent

B[] = {201, 202, 203, 204} -> Consistent

C[] = {1, 2, 3, 5, 6} -> Inconsistent as C[3] – 3 != C[0] i.e. 5 – 3 != 1

• Determining inconsistency helps to scan only half of the array each time in O(logN).

Algorithm

• Determine middle element and verify if it’s consistent.

• If middle element is consistent, then verify if the difference between middle element and its next element is higher than 1 i.e. verify if array[mid + 1] – array[mid] > 1

  • If yes, then array[mid] + 1 is the missing element.

  • Else, we have to scan the right half array from the middle element and jump to step-1.

• If middle element is inconsistent, then verify if the difference between middle element and its previous element is higher than 1 i.e. verify if array[mid] – array[mid – 1] > 1

  • If yes, then array[mid] – 1 is the missing element.

  • Else, we have to scan the left half array from the middle element and jump to step-1.

Example

 Live Demo

// CPP implementation of the approach
#include<bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
// Shows function to return the missing element
int findMissing(int array[], int n1){
   int low = 0, high = n1 - 1;
   int mid1;
   while (high > low){
      mid1 = low + (high - low) / 2;
      // Verify if middle element is consistent
      if (array[mid1] - mid1 == array[0]){
         // Here, no inconsistency till middle elements
         // When missing element is just after
         // the middle element
         if (array[mid1 + 1] - array[mid1] > 1)
            return array[mid1] + 1;
         else{
            // Go right
            low = mid1 + 1;
         }
      }
      else{
         // Here inconsistency found
         // When missing element is just before
         // the middle element
         if (array[mid1] - array[mid1 - 1] > 1)
            return array[mid1] - 1;
         else{
            // Go left
            high = mid1 - 1;
         }
      }
   }
   // Here, no missing element found
   return -1;
}
// Driver code
int main(){
   int array[] = { -9, -8, -6, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0 };
   int n1 = sizeof(array)/sizeof(array[0]);
   cout <<"The Missing Element:" <<(findMissing(array, n1));
}

Output

The Missing Element:-7