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To determine whether a valid binary array original exists that could form the given derived array, we can use the properties of XOR:

Key Observations:

  1. Each derived[i] is the XOR of two adjacent elements in original:

    • For i = n - 1, derived[i] = original[n-1] ⊕ original[0].
    • Otherwise, derived[i] = original[i] ⊕ original[i+1].
  2. XOR properties:

    • a ⊕ a = 0 (XOR of a number with itself is 0).
    • a ⊕ 0 = a (XOR of a number with 0 is the number itself).
    • XOR is commutative and associative.
  3. To construct a valid original, the XOR of all elements in derived must equal 0. Why? Because for a circular XOR relationship to work (start and end wrap back to the beginning), the cumulative XOR of derived

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@kovatz
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kovatz Jan 17, 2025
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@mah-shamim
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mah-shamim Jan 17, 2025
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