Scala algorithm: Count factors/divisors of an integer

Published

Algorithm goal

A number \(y\) is a factor of \(x\) if \(x\) is divisible by \(y\). Find the number of distinct factors of a number \(x\).

For example, 2 has two factors: \(1\) and \(2\). 16 has 5 factors: \(1\), \(2\), \(4\), \(8\), and \(16\).

This problem is similar to the codility problem CountFactors - Count factors of given number n.

123456789…1516Total count
Divides 16?✓✓✗✓✗✗✗✓✗✗✗✓5
Factor count so far122333344445

Test cases in Scala

assert(countFactors(1) == 1)
assert(countFactors(2) == 2)
assert(countFactors(3) == 2)
assert(countFactors(4) == 3)
assert(countFactors(5) == 2)
assert(countFactors(6) == 4)
assert(countFactors(16) == 5)
assert(countFactors(24) == 8)
assert(countFactors(36) == 9)
assert(countFactors(Int.MaxValue) == 2)

Algorithm in Scala

8 lines of Scala (compatible versions 2.13 & 3.0), showing how concise Scala can be!

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Explanation

In a brute-force approach, for number \(n\), we can check for all numbers that are divisible, up to \(n\).

However, there is a more efficient approach, in particular if we consider that for every factor that is under \(\sqrt{n}\), there a corresponding factor to be counted that is above \(\sqrt{n}\), meaning every divisor under the square root has a corresponding divisor above it - 2 divisors. (this is © from www.scala-algorithms.com)

Full explanation is available to subscribers Scala algorithms logo, maze part, which looks quirky

Scala concepts & Hints

  1. Collect

    'collect' allows you to use Pattern Matching, to filter and map items.

    assert("Hello World".collect {
  case character if Character.isUpperCase(character) => character.toLower
} == "hw")

  2. Pattern Matching

    Pattern matching in Scala lets you quickly identify what you are looking for in a data, and also extract it.

    assert("Hello World".collect {
  case character if Character.isUpperCase(character) => character.toLower
} == "hw")

  3. Range

    The (1 to n) syntax produces a "Range" which is a representation of a sequence of numbers.

    assert((1 to 5).toString == "Range 1 to 5")

assert((1 to 5).reverse.toString() == "Range 5 to 1 by -1")

assert((1 to 5).toList == List(1, 2, 3, 4, 5))

  4. View

    The .view syntax creates a structure that mirrors another structure, until "forced" by an eager operation like .toList, .foreach, .forall, .count.

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