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SRM1 Oct 2005
SRM 266

ZCurve

Problem statement, definition, constraints, and public examples.

Problem Statement

A Z-curve is a path that traces through all the points in a two-dimensional square grid in such a way that the four quadrants are visited in order: first the upper left, then the upper right, then the lower left, and finally the lower right. If those quadrants contain more than 1 cell, these cells are visited recursively, in the same manner. A Z-curve of order N is a path through a 2^N by 2^N grid. A Z-curve of order 1 is a simple Z-shape through a 2-by-2 grid, as shown below.


Here is a diagram of a Z-curve of order 2.


Notice the order each quadrant was visited:
- upper left quadrant: 0, 1, 2, 3
- upper right quadrant: 4, 5, 6, 7
- lower left quadrant: 8, 9, 10, 11
- lower right quadrant: 12, 13, 14, 15

You will be given a value N and coordinates r and c denoting the row and the column in a 2^N by 2^N grid. Coordinates range from 0 to (2^N)-1 inclusive, with the upper left corner at coordinates (0,0). Assuming you start from the upper left corner and the points are traversed in the order specified by a Z-curve of order N, determine how many steps it takes to reach the point at coordinates (r,c).

Definition

Class:
ZCurve
Method:
zValue
Parameters:
int, int, int
Returns:
int
Method signature:
int zValue(int N, int r, int c)
(be sure your method is public)

Constraints

  • N is between 1 and 15, inclusive.
  • r and c are between 0 and 2^N-1, inclusive.

Examples

  1. 2
    3
    1
    Returns: 11
  2. 1
    0
    0
    Returns: 0
  3. 3
    7
    7
    Returns: 63
    (7,7) is in the lower right corner of the grid and, as shown in the following diagram, it is the last point visited.
  4. 4
    7
    7
    Returns: 63
    The upper left quadrant of a Z-curve of order 4 is actually a Z-curve of order 3 and, because it is the first quadrant visited, the answer is the same as in the previous example.
  5. 10
    511
    511
    Returns: 262143
  6. 10
    512
    512
    Returns: 786432
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