Heapsort Algorithm using min-heap

Mars picture Mars · Sep 20, 2013 · Viewed 21.7k times · Source

When I implement heapsort using a min-heap it sorts the array from largest to smallest. Is this the desired output for a heapsort using min-heap? It seems redundant to sort again to output smallest to largest after the sort is complete since the heap itself has a smallest to largest structure.

CODE:

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
#include "random.h"
#include "print.h"
int parent(int i)
{
    return (i - 1) / 2;
}
int left(int i)
{
    if(i == 0)
        return 1;
    else
        return 2*i;
}
int right(int i)
{   if(i == 0)
        return 2;
    else
        return 2*i + 1;
}
void min_heapify(std::vector<int> &A, int i, int heapsize)
{
    int smallest;
    int l = left(i);
    //std::cout << "left = " << l << std::endl;
    int r = right(i);
    //std::cout << "right = " << r << std::endl;
    if(l <= heapsize && A[l] < A[i])
        smallest = l;
    else
        smallest = i;
    //std::cout << "smallest = " << smallest << std::endl;
    if(r <= heapsize && A[r] < A[smallest])
        smallest = r;
    if(smallest != i) {
        print(A);
        exchange(A, i, smallest);
        min_heapify(A, smallest, heapsize);
    }
}
void build_min_heap(std::vector<int> &A)
{
    int heapsize = A.size() - 1;
    for(int i = (A.size() - 1) / 2; i >= 0; i--)
        min_heapify(A, i, heapsize);
}
void heapsort(std::vector<int> &A)
{
    int heapsize = A.size() - 1;
    build_min_heap(A);
    std::cout << "heapsort after buildmaxheap" << std::endl;
    print(A);
    for(int i = A.size() - 1; i > 0; i--) {
        exchange(A, 0, i);
        heapsize--;
        std::cout << "heapsize = " << heapsize << std::endl;
        min_heapify(A, 0, heapsize);
    }
}
int main()
{
    std::vector<int> B;
    fill(B, 5);
    print(B);
    heapsort(B);
    print(B);
    return 0;
}

Output from code:

41 65 31 41 19 
41 65 31 41 19 
41 65 19 41 31 
41 19 65 41 31 
41 19 31 41 65 
19 41 31 41 65 
heapsort after buildmaxheap
19 31 41 41 65 
heapsize = 3
65 31 41 41 19 
31 65 41 41 19 
heapsize = 2
heapsize = 1
65 41 41 31 19 
heapsize = 0
65 41 41 31 19 

Output for 20 elements:

41 65 31 41 19 15 72 11 78 69 37 23 29 63 75 4 5 49 75 99 
after buildmaxheap
4 5 15 11 19 23 29 41 31 69 37 41 72 63 75 65 78 49 75 99 
after sort
99 78 75 75 72 69 65 63 49 41 41 37 31 29 23 19 15 11 5 4 

Answer

iavr picture iavr · Sep 20, 2013

Order: Use max-heapify to sort in asceding order, min-heapify to sort in descending order.

Sorting: Building the heap with min-heapify does not sort your array; it only enforces the (weaker) min-heap property, that is

A[parent(i)] <= A[i]

for every node i other than the root. After the heap is built, the root (leftmost position in the array) has the minimum element. Sorting then repeatedly moves elements from the root to the right and calls min-heapify on the root (bringing there the minimum of what remains), hence the descending order.

The code you are posting appears correct at a glance but does not compile as is, so I cannot test. If your array appears sorted right after building the heap, it should be a coincidence. Try a larger test.