Maximum Xor Of Two Numbers In An Array
To solve this coding challenge, we need to identify the maximum result of XORing any two numbers in a given array. XOR (exclusive OR) is a bitwise operation that returns 1 for each bit position where the corresponding bits of the operands differ and 0 where they are the same.
Here's a detailed explanation and pseudocode to solve the problem:
# Explanation
- Understanding XOR Basis : XOR combines bits in a way such that for each bit pair, it results in 1 if the bits differ and 0 if they are the same. For instance, for the numbers 5 (in binary '0101') and 25 (in binary '11001'), XOR results in '011100', equal to 28 in decimal. Thus, 5 XOR 25 = 28.
- Iterating Bit Positions : We aim to maximize the XOR result bit by bit, starting from the most significant bit (MSB) and working our way to the least significant bit (LSB). The idea is to use the properties of the numbers' binary representations to build candidates of potential maximum results.
- Using a Mask : We utilize a mask to isolate current bits of interest. For each bit, we keep track of seen prefixes of the given numbers with that mask applied. This helps us in identifying potential pairs that could maximize the XOR value.
- Checking Candidates : For each bit position, after updating our mask, we check if flipping the current bit (from 0 to 1 or vice versa) of a candidate maximum result leads to already seen prefixes. This helps in deciding if we can set the current bit in our candidate maximum result to 1. Here's a step-by-step explanation in pseudocode:
-
Initialize
max_result
mask
- Loop over bit positions from the MSB to the LSB.
-
Inside this loop, adjust the
mask
-
Use the
mask
- Assume the current bit in the final result can be 1 (set this in a candidate).
- Check if existing prefixes can create this candidate value using XOR.
-
If they can, update the
max_result
# Detailed Steps in Pseudocode
# Pseudocode with Comments:
# Initialize variables for storing the maximum XOR result and the mask
max_result = 0
mask = 0
# Iterate over bit positions from most significant bit (31) to least significant bit (0)
for bit_position from 31 down to 0:
# Update the mask to consider the current bit and all more significant bits
mask = mask | (1 << bit_position)
# Use a set to track seen prefixes of numbers with the applied mask
seen_prefixes = set()
for number in numbers:
# Extract prefix with the current mask and add to the set of seen prefixes
seen_prefix = number & mask
seen_prefixes.add(seen_prefix)
# Assume the current bit of the result can be set to 1 (this is the candidate)
candidate_max_result = max_result | (1 << bit_position)
# Check if the candidate can be achieved with any of the seen prefixes
for prefix in seen_prefixes:
# If the XOR of the candidate with the current prefix is also a seen prefix
if (candidate_max_result ^ prefix) in seen_prefixes:
# Update max_result to the candidate value as it is achievable
max_result = candidate_max_result
break
# Return the maximum XOR result found
return max_result
In summary, by constructing and using masks to isolate current bit positions, and using sets to track prefixes, we can iteratively build towards the maximum possible XOR of any two numbers from the input array. This approach ensures efficient calculation by using bitwise operations and set manipulations, allowing us to solve the problem within reasonable time limits even for large inputs.