Find position of the only set bit in C++

In this problem we are given a number N which has only one set bit in its binary representation. Our task is to find the position of the only set bit. If the number has only one set bit return the position of the number otherwise print invalid number.

Let’s take an example to understand the problem,

Input

N = 32

Output

6

Explanation

Binary representation of the number is 10000.

Solution Approach

One fact to know before we proceed further is the number will have only 1 set bit if it is a power of 2. Otherwise it will have more number of set bits.

A simple solution is by starting from the rightmost bit and then check the value of bits. We will use a loop to check if it is set or not.

Program to illustrate the working of our solution,

Example

 Live Demo

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
bool isPowerOfTwo(unsigned n) {
   if(n>0) {
      while(n%2 == 0)
      n/=2;
      if(n == 1)
         return true;
   }
   if(n == 0 || n != 1)
      return false;
   return false;
}
int findPostionOfSetBit(unsigned n) {
   unsigned i = 1, position = 1;
   while (!(i & n)) {
      i = i << 1;
      ++position;
   }
   return position;
}
int main(void){
   int n = 64;
   if(!isPowerOfTwo(n))
      cout<<"Invalid Number!";
   else
      cout<<"The position of the number "<<n<<" is "<<findPostionOfSetBit(n);
   return 0;
}

Output

The position of the number 64 is 7

An alternate method to solve the problem is by using the shift operation to shift the number to right until it becomes 0. At the end the number of shifts done to reach 0 is the position of the set bit.

Program to illustrate the working of our solution,

Example

 Live Demo

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
bool isPowerOfTwo(unsigned n) {
   if(n>0) {
      while(n%2 == 0)
         n/=2;
      if(n == 1)
         return true;
   }
   if(n == 0 || n != 1)
      return false;
   return false;
}
int findPostionOfSetBit(unsigned n) {
   unsigned position = 0;
   while (n) {
      n = n >> 1;
      ++position;
   }
   return position;
}
int main(void){
   int n = 64;
   if(!isPowerOfTwo(n))
      cout<<"Invalid Number!";
   else
      cout<<"The position of the number "<<n<<" is
      "<<findPostionOfSetBit(n);
   return 0;
}

Output

The position of the number 64 is 7

One more method to solve the problem is using math formulas. We know that,

2i = n, where n is the number
and i is the position of the number
The values of i here can be found using the formula,
i = log2(n)

Program to illustrate the working of our solution,

Example

 Live Demo

#include <iostream>
#include <math.h>
using namespace std;
bool isPowerOfTwo(unsigned n) {
   if(n>0) {
      while(n%2 == 0)
         n/=2;
      if(n == 1)
         return true;
   }
   if(n == 0 || n != 1)
      return false;
   return false;
}
int findPostionOfSetBit(unsigned n) {
   unsigned position = log2(n) + 1; ;
   return position;
}
int main(void){
   int n = 64;
   if(!isPowerOfTwo(n))
      cout<<"Invalid Number!";
   else
      cout<<"The position of the number "<<n<<" is "<<findPostionOfSetBit(n);
   return 0;
}

Output

The position of the number 64 is 7

Sudhir sharma

Published on 16-Mar-2021 05:17:43

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