asked on

Java Programming help

I'm trying to understand a java program that looks like followin:

interface Filter<T> {
boolean matches(T t);
}
public class Test{
Filter<Set<Set<Integer>>> filter = new Filter<Set<Set<Integer>>>() {
public boolean matches(Set<Set<Integer>> integers) {
Set<Integer> union = new LinkedHashSet<Integer>();
for (Set<Integer> ints : integers)
union.addAll(ints);
return union.equals(solutionSet);
}
};

}

why does the code have filter interface at the top and inside the method declaration one of the parenthesis ends with semicolon..is that correct?

CEHJ

>>why does the code have filter interface at the top

The interface is declared then implemented

>> one of the parenthesis ends with semicolon..

What are you referring to here?

ksivananth

>>inside the method declaration one of the parenthesis ends with semicolon..is that correct?

yes, it says that it doesn't have method body!

sarah2248

ASKER

Thanks I'm new to java and trying to understand this program in the book. The program is supposed to find combinations of all sets by calling a method shortesCombination. But I can't figure out what is going on inside the main method after the set and arraylist declaration. I put a comment before the line where I start getting confused. Could you please explain the program to me kindly.

Why are we declaring the interface in the program. why do we need it?

Following is the full program:

interface Filter<T> {
    boolean matches(T t);
}
public class Test3{
public static void main(String... args) throws IOException {
    Integer[][] arrayOfSets = {
        {1,2,5,6,9,10},
        {9,10,11,12},
        {1,2,3,4},
        {3,5,6,7,8},
        {9,10,11,12},
        {4,8},
    };
    Integer[] solution = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12};

//I don't understand the code below

    List<Set<Integer>> listOfSets = new ArrayList<Set<Integer>>();
    for (Integer[] array : arrayOfSets)
        listOfSets.add(new LinkedHashSet<Integer>(Arrays.asList(array)));
    final Set<Integer> solutionSet = new LinkedHashSet<Integer>(Arrays.asList(solution));

    Filter<Set<Set<Integer>>> filter = new Filter<Set<Set<Integer>>>() {
        public boolean matches(Set<Set<Integer>> integers) {
            Set<Integer> union = new LinkedHashSet<Integer>();
            for (Set<Integer> ints : integers)
                union.addAll(ints);
            return union.equals(solutionSet);
        }
    };

    Set<Set<Integer>> firstSolution = shortestCombination(filter, listOfSets);
    System.out.println("The shortest combination was "+firstSolution);
}

Open in new window

sarah2248

ASKER

@Savant

Filter<Set<Set<Integer>>> filter = new Filter<Set<Set<Integer>>>() {
public boolean matches(Set<Set<Integer>> integers) {
Set<Integer> union = new LinkedHashSet<Integer>();
for (Set<Integer> ints : integers)
union.addAll(ints);
return union.equals(solutionSet);
}
}; <------- I was referring to this semicolon

CEHJ

>> <------- I was referring to this semicolon

That marks the end of an anonymous class constructor

sarah2248

ASKER

oh thanks

silkyguy21

In your code last ; is the ending of anonymous constructor. this is Perfactly valid.

sarah2248

ASKER

what is the code doing in the following lines:

Filter<Set<Set<Integer>>> filter = new Filter<Set<Set<Integer>>>() {
public boolean matches(Set<Set<Integer>> integers) {
Set<Integer> union = new LinkedHashSet<Integer>();
for (Set<Integer> ints : integers)
union.addAll(ints);
return union.equals(solutionSet);
}
};

can you please explain..thanks

CEHJ

It adds successive Set<Integer>, derived from the Integer[] instances to one big Set ('union') and at each iteration, 'union' is tested for equality with the solution set

CEHJ

>>and at each iteration,

That was incorrect. Substitute

and after all iterations

sarah2248

ASKER

cool thanks that was really helpful. I have some more questions about this one. I will post my questions shortly.

sarah2248

ASKER

@CEHJ thanks so much for the explanations. I'm starting to understand what the code is doing
I have some more questions.
Why are we using this : "<<" and ">>" in the following code:

private static <T> Set<T> shortestCombination(Filter<Set<T>> filter, List<T> listOfSets) {
    final int size = listOfSets.size();
    int combinations = 1 << size;
    List<Set<T>> possibleSolutions = new ArrayList<Set<T>>();
    for(int l = 0;l < combinations;l++) {
        Set<T> combination = new LinkedHashSet<T>();
        for(int j=0;j<size;j++) {
            if (((l >> j) & 1) != 0)
                combination.add(listOfSets.get(j));
        }
        possibleSolutions.add(combination);
    }
    // the possible solutions in order of size.
    Collections.sort(possibleSolutions, new Comparator<Set<T>>() {
        public int compare(Set<T> o1, Set<T> o2) {
            return o1.size()-o2.size();
        }
    });//end of an anonymous class constructor
    
    for (Set<T> possibleSolution : possibleSolutions) {
        if (filter.matches(possibleSolution))
            return possibleSolution;
    }
    return null;
}

Open in new window

Could you please explain lines 5-12 and 14-18.
Thanks so much for all the help

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

silkyguy21

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silkyguy21

For your question, why << and >> is being used. This is because we need to use the left shift operator to know how many possible sets are to be derived out of "listOfSets". As this value is 6 so we know there are 2^6 = 64 possible combination of sets.

1 leftshift ops. by 6 points = 64

sarah2248

ASKER

Thanks so much for all your help. This helps a lot.

silkyguy21

hi sarah,

if you are satisfied... pls close the question and recommend solution.

Thanks

CEHJ

sarah2248, can you tell me why you ignored my previous contributions to this multipart question?

sarah2248

ASKER

Sorry about that. Everyone equally helped me with this one but I don't know how to select multiple answers and once. I did not ignore any of your contributions.

CEHJ

>>but I don't know how to select multiple answers

Then you must learn