Java Program to Find Groups of 3 Numbers from an Array which upon Adding Gives a Sum of Zero

In the previous article, we have discussed about Java Program to Print all SubArrays of a Given Array

In this article we are going to see how we can find groups of 3 numbers from an array which upon adding gives a sum of zero by using Java programming language.. This question is asked frequently in interviews.

Java Program to Find Groups of 3 Numbers from an Array which upon Adding Gives a Sum of Zero

Here you need to find combination of three array elements which gives sum as 0.

For Example:

There is an array say arr= {9, 6, 8, -1,  2, -3, 4, 3, 2, 1}
Three array elements combinations whose sum are zero=
-1, -3, 4 
2, -3, 1 
-3, 2, 1

Let’s see different ways to find groups of 3 numbers from an array which upon adding gives a sum of zero.

By Using Brute Force
By Using Hashing

Method-1: Java Program to Find Groups of 3 Numbers from an Array which upon Adding Gives a Sum of Zero By Using Brute Force

Approach:

Ask the user to enter the array size.
Take the array size create an array and insert the elements.
Run 3 for loops, first loop with iterator i from 0 to n, second loop iterator j from i+1 to n and third loop iterator k from j+1 to n.
Add the elements at the loop index at i,j, and k, if they add upto zero then print else iterate.

Program:

import java.util.*;
public class Main
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        // Asks the user to enter array size
        System.out.println("Enter array size");
        Scanner scan = new Scanner(System.in);
        int n = scan.nextInt();
        int arr[] = new int[n];
        // Takes the array as input
        for(int i = 0; i < n; i++)
        {
            arr[i] = scan.nextInt();
        }
        // Prints the number groups
        System.out.println("The numbers are-");
        for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++)
        {
            for (int j = i + 1; j < arr.length; j++) 
            {
                for (int k = j + 1; k < arr.length; k++) 
                {
                    if (arr[i] + arr[j] + arr[k] == 0) 
                    {
                        System.out.println(arr[i]+", "+arr[j]+", "+arr[k]);
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Output:

Enter array size
10
9 6 8 -1 2 -3 4 3 2 1
The numbers are-
-1, -3, 4
2, -3, 1
-3, 2, 1

Method-2: Java Program to Find Groups of 3 Numbers from an Array which upon Adding Gives a Sum of Zero By Using Hashing

Approach:

Ask the user to enter the array size.
Take the array size create an array and insert the elements.
Create an empty hashSet.
Run two loops, one from 0 to n and the second one from i to n
Add the two elements and check the hash for the additive inverse of the sum. If exists print the three elements.
Add each scanned element to the hash

Program:

import java.util.*;
public class Main
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        // Asks the user to enter array size
        System.out.println("Enter array size");
        Scanner scan = new Scanner(System.in);
        int n = scan.nextInt();
        System.out.print("Enter array elements-");
        int arr[] = new int[n];
        // Takes the array as input
        for(int i = 0; i < n; i++)
        {
            arr[i] = scan.nextInt();
        }
        System.out.println("The numbers are-");
        // Creates a new hashSet
        HashSet hash = new HashSet<>();
        // Prints the number groups
        for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) 
        {
            hash.clear();
            for (int j = i + 1; j < arr.length; j++)
            {
                // Adds the ith and jtj element and checks if there is an additive inverse in the array
                int sum = -(arr[i] + arr[j]);
                // if the sum equals to any number in the hashSet then prints
                if(hash.contains(sum))
                {
                    System.out.println(arr[i]+", "+arr[j]+", "+sum);
                }
                // Adds the scanned number to the hashSet
                hash.add(arr[j]);
            }
        }
    }
}

Output:

Enter array size
10
Enter array elements--3 5 -4 -2 2 1 -1 -3 0 4
The numbers are-
-3, -2, 5
-3, 1, 2
-3, 4, -1
5, -1, -4
5, -3, -2
-4, 4, 0
-2, 0, 2
2, -3, 1
1, 0, -1
-1, 4, -3

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