# Program to find smallest index for which array element is also same as index in Python

PythonServer Side ProgrammingProgramming

Suppose we have a list of elements called nums where all items are unique, and they are sorted in ascending order, we have to find the minimum i such that nums[i] = i. If we cannot find any solution, then return -1. We have to solve this problem in O(log(n)) time.

So, if the input is like nums = [-4, -1, 2, 3, 8], then the output will be 2, because both nums[2] = 2 and nums[3] = 3 but 2 is smaller.

To solve this, we will follow these steps −

• ret := -1, lhs := 0, rhs := size of nums - 1

• while lhs <= rhs, do

• mid := floor of (lhs + rhs) / 2

• if nums[mid] is same as mid, then

• ret := mid

• if nums[mid] >= mid, then

• rhs := mid - 1

• otherwise,

• lhs := mid + 1

• return ret

## Example

Let us see the following implementation to get better understanding

def solve(nums):
ret = -1
lhs = 0
rhs = len(nums) - 1
while lhs <= rhs:
mid = (lhs + rhs) // 2
if nums[mid] == mid:
ret = mid
if nums[mid] >= mid:
rhs = mid - 1
else:
lhs = mid + 1
return ret

nums = [-4, -1, 2, 3, 8]
print(solve(nums))

## Input

[-4, -1, 2, 3, 8]


## Output

2
Published on 11-Oct-2021 07:20:25
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