This is a problem that came to me by chance and I don't know how to solve it
Given n positive integers
Choose any two integers a and b and merge them into a+b, the cost of the operation is max(a,b)
Repeat the operation until there is only one number left, find the minimum possible cost
I found a similar problem on the web, and in that one, the cost of the operation is a+b.
In that problem, the solution is to choose the smallest two integers in every operation.
Unfortunately, it can't work in this problem.
For example
1 2 2 3
If we always choose the smallest two integers
the process will be 1 2 2 3 -> 2 3 3 -> 3 5 -> 8 and the cost is 2+3+5=10
However,if we do like this: 1 2 2 3 -> 2 2 4 -> 4 4 -> 8, the cost will be 3+2+4=9
Can you give a link to the problem?
You should go for a Greedy method:
sort the array, always operate on A[i] and A[i+1] such that A[i+1]-A[i] is smallest.
I have not proven it neither found a counter-example but I hope you may found this helpful!
sorry, but I seems to find a hack.
array: 2 5 10 11
greedy process: 2 5 10 11 -> 2 5 21-> 7 21 ->28, and the cost is 11+5+21=37
but there is a better way: 2 5 10 11-> 7 10 11-> 11 17 ->28, and the cost is 5+10+17=32
upd: well, even the sample given in the statement (1 2 2 3) can hack this method
It sounds like a dp, cause greedy solutions doesnt work
Q
I have given example to show that simple greedy will not work.
How about we take an approach based on, instead of constructing the total from the bottom, we partition the final number into two and recurse? For example, we start from the total sum — $$$8$$$ in your example, can be represented in multiple ways,
4+4and 3 more. I think we may be able to construct a DP solution, but I am not yet fully able to implement one.UPDATE: I think I came up with the states for DP, It could be done by $$$DP[N]=min_{m=ceil(N/2)}^{N} {DP[N-m]+DP[m]+m}$$$. However I think, in this case, keeping the array's state would be very hard.
Can you guys think before commenting? Every comment is "well maybe it works if we always take the two cutest numbers" with no analysis, proof or even vague intuition.
I think mine isn't :thinking:
How could we solve this problem? Could you kindly provide some hints or ideas leading to the solution?
I have no good ideas. I don't think there is a reason to expect that it can be solved in polynomial time.