354. Missax -
S = (sum of present numbers) + m = T + m Rearranging gives m = S – T . ∎ The algorithm computes missing = S – T .
Proof. By Lemma 2 the value stored in missing after processing the whole test case equals S – T . By Lemma 1 S – T equals the missing element m . Therefore the printed value is exactly m . ∎ Time – each number is read and processed once → O(N) per test case. Memory – only a few 64‑bit variables are kept → O(1) . 6. Reference implementation (C++17) #include <bits/stdc++.h> using namespace std;
The input may contain several test cases. Each test case is described as follows 354. Missax
int main() { ios::sync_with_stdio(false); cin.tie(nullptr); long long N; while (cin >> N) { if (N == 0) break; // end of input // ----- sum based solution ----- long long missing = (N + 1) * (N + 2) / 2; // Σ_{i=1}^{N+1} i for (long long i = 0, x; i < N; ++i) { cin >> x; missing -= x; } cout << missing << '\n'; /* ----- xor based solution (alternatively) ----- long long missing = 0; for (long long i = 1; i <= N + 1; ++i) missing ^= i; for (long long i = 0, x; i < N; ++i) { cin >> x; missing ^= x; } cout << missing << '\n'; ------------------------------------------------- */ } return 0; } The program follows exactly the algorithm proved correct above, conforms to the required I/O format and runs in linear time with constant extra memory. It compiles under any standard C++17 compiler.
missing = S – Σ a_j = S – T ∎ For each test case the algorithm outputs the unique missing integer. S = (sum of present numbers) + m
x = 1 xor 2 xor … xor (N+1) xor a1 xor a2 … xor aN Every value that appears twice cancels out, leaving the missing number. Both approaches are linear in time and constant in memory. For each test case
Proof. The algorithm first stores missing = S . During the input loop it subtracts each read number a_j from missing . After the loop finishes By Lemma 2 the value stored in missing
(Typical “find the missing element” problem – often appears on many online judges under the name Missax .) 1. Problem statement You are given an integer N ( 1 ≤ N ≤ 10⁶ ) . Then N distinct integers a₁ , a₂ , … , a_N are supplied.
read N if N == 0 → finish missing = (N+1)*(N+2)/2 // 64‑bit integer repeat N times read x missing -= x output missing or (XOR version)
{ 1 , 2 , 3 , … , N+1 } i.e. the list is a permutation of the numbers 1 … N+1 . Your task is to output the missing number.
Proof. All numbers of {1,…,N+1} appear either in T (if they are present) or are the missing value m . Hence