Challenge: Connecting n Pipes with Minimum Cost
Explore how to design and implement a greedy algorithm that connects n pipes with the least possible cost. This lesson helps you understand the problem constraints, develop a step-by-step solution, and practice optimizing algorithms commonly encountered in coding interviews.
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Problem Statement
Implement a function that, given n pipes of different lengths, connects these pipes into one pipe. The cost to connect two pipes is equal to the sum of their lengths. We need to connect the pipes with minimum cost.
Input
An array where its length is the number of pipes and indexes are the specific lengths of the pipes
Output
The total cost of connecting the pipes.
Sample Input
pipes[4] = {4, 3, 2, 6};
Sample Output
29
Coding Exercise
Take a close look and design a step-by-step algorithm before jumping on to the implementation. This problem is designed for your practice, so try to solve it on your own first. If you get stuck, you can always refer to the hint and solution provided in the code tab. Good Luck!