Question 6: Four in a line

Four in a line

Today we will discuss InfyTQ Coding question that is  Four in a line that was asked in InfytQ Coding question InfyTQ Advance Coding Section. We will see the Question description along with function description and the Test Cases along with there explanation.

You will find the solution of the problem which is asked for InfyTQ Coding question in various programming language. 

 

Problem Statement -: Given a m x n matrix inmatrix of positive integers, print an integer outnum based on the below logic: 

  • Identify all possible sets in inmatrix that contain at least four consecutive elements of the same value val, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally 
  • If only one set of consecutive elements is identified, store the value val in outnum 
  • If more than one set of consecutive elements is identified, find the smallest value and store it in outnum 
  • If no set of four consecutive elements of the same value is identified either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, print -1 

Assumption: 

  • m and n will be greater than 3 

Input format: 

  • First line will contain number of rows m of inmatrix
  • The next m lines will contain the elements of inmatrix. Each line will have n elements separated by space.
  • Read the input from the standard input stream. 

Output format: 

  • Print outnum to the standard output stream. 
  • Sample Input 1
    5
    0 1 6 8 8 9
    5 6 1 6 8 9 
    6 5 6 1 1 9
    1 6 6 1 1 9
    6 3 3 3 3 9
  • Sample Output 1
    1
  • Explanation 1
    Following elements are present consecutively at least four times: Element 3 horizontally in the 5th row. Element 1 diagonally starting from the 2nd column in the first row. Element 6 diagonally starting from the 4th column in the second row. Element 9 vertically in the 6th column. As element 1 is the smallest value of the four identified sets of consecutive values, the output is 1  
  • Sample input 2
    5
    0 1 6 8 6 0
    5 5 2 1 8 2
    6 5 6 1 1 9
    1 5 6 1 4 0
    3 7 3 3 4 0 
  • Sample Output 2
    -1
  • Explanation 2
    Here there are no sets of four consecutive elements of the same value either horizontally, vertically,or diagonally  hence output is -1