CODEWITHSUNDEEP
java
A Y
A Y

Reputation: 177

breaking a mathematical range in equal parts

I have a mathematical range [a, b] and I am trying to break the range into 'n' equal parts. The numbers, a and b can be anything but for an example let's assume the range is [0, 1].

Basically what I am trying to do is let's say that if n = 4 and the range is [0, 1] then I want breakpoints for that range to be calculated as [.25, .5, .75] because these divide [0, 1] into 4 equal points. Similarly, if the range is [0, 1] and n = 2, I want the breakpoints to be [.5].

What is the fastest way of computing these breakpoints in java? Is there a built-in function for doing this sort of thing?

Upvotes: 2

Views: 11413

Answers (6)

kusur
kusur

Reputation: 618

If the range is [a,b] and it has to be divided in n partitions, then one approach can be:-

public class Range
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        double lowLimit = a;
        double highLimit = b;
        double difference = (b-a);
        double partition = difference/n;   // n is the number partitions of the range [a,b]
        System.out.println("The partitions are:");
        for(int i = 1;i<=n; i++)
            {
                    lowLimit += partition;
                    System.out.print(lowLimit+"\t");
            }
        System.out.println();
    }
}

Upvotes: 2

But I&#39;m Not A Wrapper Class
But I&#39;m Not A Wrapper Class

Reputation: 14276

Say you have numbers [x,y] and you want n parts. Then you could do calculate that difference:

diff = (y-x)/n

Now create a variable d which equals to x and loop from 1 to n. As you loop, add diff to d and print d. Some pseudo code:

diff = (y-x)/n;     
d = x;
for(1 to n)
    d = d + diff
    print(d)

NOTE: Use double.

Upvotes: 8

maverik
maverik

Reputation: 5586

Code just to give you an idea where to start: 

int a = 0;
int b = 1;
int n = 4;

double fraction = (b - a) / (double) n;
for (int i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
    System.out.println("Lower bound: " + i * fraction + "; Upper bound: " + (i + 1) * fraction);
}

Upvotes: 0

Aman Agnihotri
Aman Agnihotri

Reputation: 3023

Here's an approach with while loop:

public class Breakpoint
{
  public Breakpoint()
  {
    double start = 0;
    double end = 1;

    double n = 4;

    double difference = (end - start) / n;
    double value = start;

    while (value < end)
    {
      value += difference;
      System.out.println(value);
    }
  }

  public static void main(String[] args)
  {
    new Breakpoint();
  }
}

Upvotes: 0

Tyler Gaona
Tyler Gaona

Reputation: 489

double dx = ((upper_bound - lower_bound)/n)

This will calculate the space between each point in the range.

If you wanted to place these points in an array, you would do as follows:

double value = lower_bound; 
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
    double value += dx;
    double_array[i] = value;
}

You haven't specified what sort of data structure you are working with, so beyond this simple array implementation I cannot help you without further explanation.

Upvotes: 0

Frakcool
Frakcool

Reputation: 11143

Not sure if this is what you need (to print breaks, or System break on those breakPoints), anyway, both are over here

double division += (maxRange - minRange)/n;
for(int i=0; i<=n; i++){
    double minRange = 0;
    double maxRange = 1;
    double breaks[i] = division;
    //System.out.println(breaks[i]); ----------------------USE THIS ONE IF PRINTING BREAKPOINT IS NEEDED
    //new java.util.Scanner(System.in).nextLine(); --------THIS LINE STOPS THE PROGRAM UNTIL YOU PRESS A KEY
}

Upvotes: 0

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