N Queen Problem
- Let us discuss N Queen problem that can be solved using Backtracking.
- The N Queen is the problem of placing N chess queens on an N×N chessboard so that no two queens attack each other. For example, following the solution for 4 Queen problem.
- Binary matrix which has 1’s for the blocks where queens are placed. For example, following is the output matrix for above 4 queen solution.
{ 0, 1, 0, 0 }
{ 0, 0, 0, 1 }
{ 1, 0, 0, 0 }
{ 0, 0, 1, 0 }
Backtracking Algorithm
- The idea is to place queens one by one in different columns, starting from the leftmost column.
- When we place a queen in a column, we can checkout to clashes with already placed queens.
- In the current column, if we find a row for which there is no clash, we mark this row and column as part of the solution.
- If we do not find such a row due to clashes then we backtrack and return false.
1) Start from the leftmost column
2) If all queens are placed
return true
3) Try all rows in the current column. Do following for every tried row.
a) If the queen can be placed safely in this row then mark this [row,
column] as part of the solution and recursively check if placing queen here leads to a solution.
b) If placing the queen in [row, column] leads to a solution then return
true.
c) If placing queen does not lead to a solution then umark this [row,
column] (Backtrack) and go to step (a) to try other rows.
4) If all rows have been tried and nothing worked, return false to trigger
backtracking.
Sample Code in C
/* C/C++ program to solve N Queen Problem using
backtracking */
#define N 4
#include<stdio.h>
#include<stdbool.h>
/* A utility function to print solution */
void printSolution(int board[N][N])
{
for (int i = 0; i < N; i++)
{
for (int j = 0; j < N; j++)
printf(" %d ", board[i][j]);
printf("\n");
}
}
/* A utility function to check if a queen can be placed on board[row][col].
Note that this function is called when "col" queens are already placed in columns
from 0 to col -1. So we need to check only left side for attacking queens */
bool isSafe(int board[N][N], int row, int col)
{
int i, j;
/* Check this row on left side */
for (i = 0; i < col; i++)
if (board[row][i])
return false;
/* Check upper diagonal on left side */
for (i=row, j=col; i>=0 && j>=0; i--, j--)
if (board[i][j])
return false;
/* Check lower diagonal on left side */
for (i=row, j=col; j>=0 && i<N; i++, j--)
if (board[i][j])
return false;
return true;
}
/* A recursive utility function to solve N
Queen problem */
bool solveNQUtil(int board[N][N], int col)
{
/* base case: If all queens are placed
then return true */
if (col >= N)
return true;
/* Consider this column and try placing
this queen in all rows one by one */
for (int i = 0; i < N; i++)
{
/* Check if the queen can be placed on
board[i][col] */
if ( isSafe(board, i, col) )
{
/* Place this queen in board[i][col] */
board[i][col] = 1;
/* recur to place rest of the queens */
if ( solveNQUtil(board, col + 1) )
return true;
/* If placing queen in board[i][col]
doesn't lead to a solution, then
remove queen from board[i][col] */
board[i][col] = 0; // BACKTRACK
}
}
/* If the queen cannot be placed in any row in
this colum col then return false */
return false;
}
/* This function solves the N Queen problem using Backtracking. It mainly uses
solveNQUtil() to solve the problem. It returns false if queens cannot be placed,
otherwise, return true and prints placement of queens in the form of 1s.
Please note that there may be more than one solutions, this function prints one of the
feasible solutions.*/
bool solveNQ()
{
int board[N][N] = { {0, 0, 0, 0},
{0, 0, 0, 0},
{0, 0, 0, 0},
{0, 0, 0, 0}
};
if ( solveNQUtil(board, 0) == false )
{
printf("Solution does not exist");
return false;
}
printSolution(board);
return true;
}
// driver program to test above function
int main()
{
solveNQ();
return 0;
}
Output
0 0 1 0
1 0 0 0
0 0 0 1
0 1 0 0
Categorized in:
Tagged in:
4 queen problem, 4 queen problem using backtracking, 8 queen problem in python, 8 queen problem using backtracking, 8 queen problem using backtracking in python, 8 queen problem using genetic algorithm, Accenture interview questions and answers, algorithm for n queen problem, Altimetrik India Pvt Ltd interview questions and answers, applications of 8 queen problem, Applied Materials interview questions and answers, backtracking algorithm for 8 queen problem, Bharti Airtel interview questions and answers, BMC Software interview questions and answers, c program for n queen problem, Capgemini interview questions and answers, CASTING NETWORKS INDIA PVT LIMITED interview questions and answers, CGI Group Inc interview questions and answers, Chetu interview questions and answers, Ciena Corporation interview questions and answers, Collabera Te interview questions and answers, Dell International Services India Pvt Ltd interview questions and answers, Flipkart interview questions and answers, geekyants interview questions and answers, Genpact interview questions and answers, Globallogic India Pvt Ltd interview questions and answers, IBM interview questions and answers, Indecomm Global Services interview questions and answers, Mphasis interview questions and answers, n queen problem algorithm, n queen problem algorithm using backtracking, n queen problem complexity, n queen problem in c, n queen problem in java, n queen problem in java source code, n queen problem using backtracking, n queens problem c++, n queens problem java, n queens problem java recursive, n queens problem java stack, n queens problem using backtracking algorithm, NetApp interview questions and answers, Oracle Corporation interview questions and answers, SAP Labs India Pvt Ltd interview questions and answers, Sapient Consulting Pvt Ltd interview questions and answers, short note on 8 queen problem, solution of 8 queen problem using backtracking, Tech Mahindra interview questions and answers, Tracxn Technologies Pvt Ltd interview questions and answers, UnitedHealth Group interview questions and answers, what is 8 queen problem, Wipro Infotech interview questions and answers, WM Global Technology Services India Pvt.Ltd Limited (WMGTS) interview questions and answers, Xoriant Solutions Pvt Ltd interview questions and answers, Yodlee Infotech Pvt Ltd interview questions and answers