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Optimize Quick Sort with in-place partitioning and multiple optimizations
- Add in-place partitioning using Hoare scheme (O(1) extra space vs O(n)) - Implement median-of-three pivot selection for better performance - Add hybrid approach with insertion sort for small arrays (< 10 elements) - Add optimized quick_sort_optimized() function with all improvements - Keep original quick_sort() for backward compatibility - Add comprehensive doctests for new optimized function Performance improvements: - Memory usage: O(1) vs O(n) extra space - Better pivot selection reduces worst-case scenarios - Hybrid sorting improves performance on small arrays - More efficient partitioning algorithm All tests pass and maintain backward compatibility.
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sorts/quick_sort.py

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"""
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A pure Python implementation of the quick sort algorithm
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A pure Python implementation of the quick sort algorithm with optimizations
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For doctests run following command:
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python3 -m doctest -v quick_sort.py
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from random import randrange
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def insertion_sort(collection: list, left: int, right: int) -> None:
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"""Insertion sort for small arrays (optimization for quicksort).
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Args:
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collection: List to sort
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left: Starting index
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right: Ending index (inclusive)
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"""
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for i in range(left + 1, right + 1):
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key = collection[i]
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j = i - 1
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while j >= left and collection[j] > key:
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collection[j + 1] = collection[j]
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j -= 1
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collection[j + 1] = key
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def median_of_three(collection: list, left: int, mid: int, right: int) -> int:
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"""Return the index of the median of three elements.
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Args:
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collection: List to find median in
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left: Left index
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mid: Middle index
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right: Right index
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Returns:
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Index of the median element
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"""
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a, b, c = collection[left], collection[mid], collection[right]
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if (a <= b <= c) or (c <= b <= a):
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return mid
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elif (b <= a <= c) or (c <= a <= b):
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return left
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else:
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return right
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def partition_hoare(collection: list, left: int, right: int) -> int:
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"""Hoare partition scheme for quicksort.
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Args:
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collection: List to partition
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left: Left boundary
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right: Right boundary
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Returns:
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Final position of pivot
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"""
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# Use median of three for better pivot selection
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mid = left + (right - left) // 2
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pivot_idx = median_of_three(collection, left, mid, right)
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# Move pivot to the beginning
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collection[left], collection[pivot_idx] = collection[pivot_idx], collection[left]
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pivot = collection[left]
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i, j = left - 1, right + 1
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while True:
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i += 1
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while collection[i] < pivot:
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i += 1
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j -= 1
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while collection[j] > pivot:
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j -= 1
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if i >= j:
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return j
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collection[i], collection[j] = collection[j], collection[i]
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def quick_sort_inplace(collection: list, left: int = 0, right: int = None) -> None:
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"""Optimized in-place quicksort with multiple optimizations.
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Optimizations:
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- In-place partitioning (O(1) extra space vs O(n))
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- Median-of-three pivot selection
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- Hybrid with insertion sort for small arrays
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- Hoare partition scheme (better for duplicates)
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Args:
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collection: List to sort (modified in-place)
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left: Left boundary
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right: Right boundary
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"""
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if right is None:
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right = len(collection) - 1
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if left < right:
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# Use insertion sort for small arrays (optimization)
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if right - left < 10:
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insertion_sort(collection, left, right)
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return
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# Partition and get pivot position
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pivot_pos = partition_hoare(collection, left, right)
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# Recursively sort left and right partitions
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quick_sort_inplace(collection, left, pivot_pos)
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quick_sort_inplace(collection, pivot_pos + 1, right)
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def quick_sort(collection: list) -> list:
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"""A pure Python implementation of quicksort algorithm.
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This is the original implementation kept for compatibility.
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For better performance, use quick_sort_optimized().
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:param collection: a mutable collection of comparable items
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:return: the same collection ordered in ascending order
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return [*quick_sort(lesser), pivot, *quick_sort(greater)]
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def quick_sort_optimized(collection: list) -> list:
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"""Optimized quicksort with in-place partitioning and multiple optimizations.
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Performance improvements:
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- O(1) extra space vs O(n) in original
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- Better pivot selection (median of three)
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- Hybrid with insertion sort for small arrays
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- More efficient partitioning
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Args:
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collection: List to sort
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Returns:
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Sorted list
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Examples:
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>>> quick_sort_optimized([0, 5, 3, 2, 2])
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[0, 2, 2, 3, 5]
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>>> quick_sort_optimized([])
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[]
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>>> quick_sort_optimized([-2, 5, 0, -45])
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[-45, -2, 0, 5]
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>>> quick_sort_optimized([3, 3, 3, 3, 3])
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[3, 3, 3, 3, 3]
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"""
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if len(collection) < 2:
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return collection
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# Create a copy to avoid modifying the original
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result = collection.copy()
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quick_sort_inplace(result)
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return result
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if __name__ == "__main__":
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# Get user input and convert it into a list of integers
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user_input = input("Enter numbers separated by a comma:\n").strip()

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