Segment Tree | Range Minimum Query (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 11 Feb, 2025

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We have introduced a segment tree with a simple example in the previous post. In this post, the Range Minimum Query problem is discussed as another example where a Segment Tree can be used. The following is the problem statement:
We have an array arr[0 . . . n-1]. We should be able to efficiently find the minimum value from index _q s (query start) to _q e(query end) where _0 <= q s <= q e <= n-1.

A **simple solution is to run a loop from _q _s_to _q _e_and find the minimum element in the given range. This solution takes O(n) time in the worst case.
**Another solution is to create a 2D array where an entry [i, j] stores the minimum value in range arr[i..j]. The minimum of a given range can now be calculated in O(1) time, but preprocessing takes O(n2) time. Also, this approach needs O(n2) extra space which may become huge for large input arrays.
Segment tree can be used to do preprocessing and query in moderate time. With a segment tree, preprocessing time is O(n) and the time complexity for a range minimum query is O(log n). The extra space required is O(n) to store the segment tree.

Representation of Segment trees

**1. Leaf Nodes are the elements of the input array.
**2. Each internal node represents minimum of all leaves under it.
An array representation of tree is used to represent Segment Trees. For each node at index i, the left child is at index (2 * i + 1), right child at (2 * i + 2) and the parent is at ****(i - 1) / 2**

Construction of Segment Tree from given array

We start with a segment arr[0 . . . n-1]. and every time we divide the current segment into two halves (if it has not yet become a segment of length 1), and then call the same procedure on both halves, and for each such segment, we store the minimum value in a segment tree node.

All levels of the constructed segment tree will be completely filled except the last level. Also, the tree will be a Full Binary Tree because we always divide segments in two halves at every level. Since the constructed tree is always full binary tree with n leaves, there will be n - 1 internal nodes. So total number of nodes will be 2 * n - 1.
Height of the segment tree will be ****?log?n?**. Since the tree is represented using array and relation between parent and child indexes must be maintained, size of memory allocated for segment tree will be **2 * 2 ?log 2 n? - 1.

**Query for minimum value of given range

Once the tree is constructed, how to do range minimum query using the constructed segment tree. Following is algorithm to get the minimum.

// qs--> query start index, qe --> query end index
int RMQ(node, qs, qe) {
if range of node is within qs and qe
return value in node
else if range of node is completely outside qsand qe
return INFINITE
else
return min ( RMQ(node's left child, qs, qe), RMQ (node's right child, qs, qe) )
}

C++ `

// C++ program for range minimum // query using segment tree #include <bits/stdc++.h> using namespace std;

// A utility function to get minimum of two numbers int minVal(int x, int y) { return (x < y)? x: y; }

// A utility function to get the // middle index from corner indexes. int getMid(int s, int e) { return s + (e -s)/2; }

// A recursive function to get the // minimum value in a given range of array // st --> Pointer to segment tree // index --> Index of current node in the tree // ss & se --> Starting and ending indexes // qs & qe --> Starting and ending indexes of query range int RMQUtil(vector &st, int ss, int se, int qs, int qe, int index) {

// If segment of this node is a part of given range
// then return the min of the segment
if (qs <= ss && qe >= se) 
    return st[index]; 

// If segment of this node if outside the range
if (se < qs || ss > qe) 
    return INT_MAX; 

// If a part of this segment
// overlaps with the given range 
int mid = getMid(ss, se); 
return minVal(RMQUtil(st, ss, mid, qs, qe, 2*index+1), 
            RMQUtil(st, mid+1, se, qs, qe, 2*index+2)); 

}

// Return minimum of elements in range // from index qs to qe int RMQ(vector &st, int n, int qs, int qe) {

// Check for invalid input
if (qs < 0 || qe > n-1 || qs > qe) { 
    cout<<"Invalid Input"; 
    return -1; 
} 
return RMQUtil(st, 0, n-1, qs, qe, 0); 

}

// A recursive function that constructs // Segment Tree for array[ss..se]. int constructSTUtil(vector &arr, int ss, int se, vector &st, int si) {

// If there is one element in array,
// store it in current node of 
// segment tree and return 
if (ss == se) { 
    st[si] = arr[ss]; 
    return arr[ss]; 
} 

// If there are more than one elements, 
// then recur for left and right subtrees 
// and store the minimum of two values in this node 
int mid = getMid(ss, se); 
st[si] = minVal(constructSTUtil(arr, ss, mid, st, si*2+1), 
                constructSTUtil(arr, mid+1, se, st, si*2+2)); 
return st[si]; 

}

// Function to construct segment tree vector constructST(vector &arr, int n) {

//Height of segment tree 
int x = (int)(ceil(log2(n))); 

// Maximum size of segment tree 
int max_size = 2*(int)pow(2, x) - 1; 

vector<int> st(max_size);

// Fill the allocated memory st 
constructSTUtil(arr, 0, n-1, st, 0); 

// Return the constructed segment tree 
return st; 

}

int main() {

vector<int> arr = {1, 3, 2, 7, 9, 11}; 
int n = arr.size();

// Build segment tree from given array 
vector<int> st = constructST(arr, n); 

// Starting index of query range 
int qs = 1; 

// Ending index of query range 
int qe = 5; 

// Print minimum value in arr[qs..qe] 
cout<<"Minimum of values in range ["<<qs<<", "<<qe<<"] "<<
"is = "<<RMQ(st, n, qs, qe)<<endl; 

return 0; 

}

C

// C program for range minimum query // using segment tree #include <stdio.h> #include <math.h> #include <limits.h> #include <stdlib.h>

// A utility function to get minimum of two numbers int minVal(int x, int y) { return (x < y)? x: y; }

// A utility function to get the // middle index from corner indexes. int getMid(int s, int e) { return s + (e -s)/2; }

// A recursive function to get the // minimum value in a given range of array // st --> Pointer to segment tree // index --> Index of current node in the tree // ss & se --> Starting and ending indexes // qs & qe --> Starting and ending indexes of query range int RMQUtil(int *st, int ss, int se, int qs, int qe, int index) {

// If segment of this node is a part of given range
// then return the min of the segment
if (qs <= ss && qe >= se) 
    return st[index]; 

// If segment of this node if outside the range
if (se < qs || ss > qe) 
    return INT_MAX; 

// If a part of this segment
// overlaps with the given range 
int mid = getMid(ss, se); 
return minVal(RMQUtil(st, ss, mid, qs, qe, 2*index+1), 
            RMQUtil(st, mid+1, se, qs, qe, 2*index+2));

}

// Return minimum of elements in range // from index qs to qe int RMQ(int *st, int n, int qs, int qe) {

// Check for erroneous input values
if (qs < 0 || qe > n-1 || qs > qe) {
    printf("Invalid Input");
    return -1;
}

return RMQUtil(st, 0, n-1, qs, qe, 0);

}

// A recursive function that constructs // Segment Tree for array[ss..se]. int constructSTUtil(int arr[], int ss, int se, int *st, int si) {

// If there is one element in array,
// store it in current node of 
// segment tree and return 
if (ss == se) { 
    st[si] = arr[ss]; 
    return arr[ss]; 
} 

// If there are more than one elements, 
// then recur for left and right subtrees 
// and store the minimum of two values in this node 
int mid = getMid(ss, se); 
st[si] = minVal(constructSTUtil(arr, ss, mid, st, si*2+1), 
                constructSTUtil(arr, mid+1, se, st, si*2+2)); 
return st[si]; 

}

// Function to construct segment tree int *constructST(int arr[], int n) {

//Height of segment tree
int x = (int)(ceil(log2(n))); 

// Maximum size of segment tree
int max_size = 2*(int)pow(2, x) - 1; 

int *st = (int*)malloc(max_size * sizeof(int));

// Fill the allocated memory st
constructSTUtil(arr, 0, n-1, st, 0);

// Return the constructed segment tree
return st;

}

int main() { int arr[] = {1, 3, 2, 7, 9, 11}; int n = sizeof(arr)/sizeof(arr[0]);

// Build segment tree from given array
int *st = constructST(arr, n);

// Starting index of query range
int qs = 1;  

// Ending index of query range
int qe = 5;  

// Print minimum value in arr[qs..qe]
printf("Minimum of values in range [%d, %d] is = %d\n",
                       qs, qe, RMQ(st, n, qs, qe));

return 0;

}

Java

// Java program for range minimum // query using segment tree import java.util.*;

class GFG {

// A utility function to get minimum of two numbers
static int minVal(int x, int y) {
    return (x < y) ? x : y;
}

// A utility function to get the 
// middle index from corner indexes.
static int getMid(int s, int e) {
    return s + (e - s) / 2;
}

// A recursive function to get the
// minimum value in a given range of array
static int RMQUtil(int[] st, int ss, int se, 
                    int qs, int qe, int index) {

    // If segment of this node is a part of given range
    // then return the min of the segment
    if (qs <= ss && qe >= se)
        return st[index];

    // If segment of this node is outside the range
    if (se < qs || ss > qe)
        return Integer.MAX_VALUE;

    // If a part of this segment
    // overlaps with the given range
    int mid = getMid(ss, se);
    return minVal(RMQUtil(st, ss, mid, qs, qe, 2 * index + 1),
                  RMQUtil(st, mid + 1, se, qs, qe, 2 * index + 2));
}

// Return minimum of elements in range
// from index qs to qe
static int RMQ(int[] st, int n, int qs, int qe) {

    // Check for invalid input
    if (qs < 0 || qe > n - 1 || qs > qe) {
        System.out.println("Invalid Input");
        return -1;
    }
    return RMQUtil(st, 0, n - 1, qs, qe, 0);
}

// A recursive function that constructs
// Segment Tree for array[ss..se]. 
static int constructSTUtil(int[] arr, int ss, 
                    int se, int[] st, int si) {

    // If there is one element in array,
    // store it in current node of 
    // segment tree and return 
    if (ss == se) {
        st[si] = arr[ss];
        return arr[ss];
    }

    // If there are more than one elements, 
    // then recur for left and right subtrees 
    // and store the minimum of two values in this node 
    int mid = getMid(ss, se);
    st[si] = minVal(constructSTUtil(arr, ss, mid, st, si * 2 + 1),
                    constructSTUtil(arr, mid + 1, se, st, si * 2 + 2));
    return st[si];
}

// Function to construct segment tree
static int[] constructST(int[] arr, int n) {

    // Height of segment tree
    int x = (int) (Math.ceil(Math.log(n) / Math.log(2)));

    // Maximum size of segment tree
    int max_size = 2 * (int) Math.pow(2, x) - 1;

    int[] st = new int[max_size];

    // Fill the allocated memory st
    constructSTUtil(arr, 0, n - 1, st, 0);

    // Return the constructed segment tree
    return st;
}

public static void main(String[] args) {

    int[] arr = {1, 3, 2, 7, 9, 11};
    int n = arr.length;

    // Build segment tree from given array
    int[] st = constructST(arr, n);

    // Starting index of query range
    int qs = 1;

    // Ending index of query range
    int qe = 5;

    // Print minimum value in arr[qs..qe]
    System.out.println("Minimum of values in range [" + qs + ", " + qe + "] " +
                       "is = " + RMQ(st, n, qs, qe));
}

}

Python

A utility function to get minimum of two numbers

def minVal(x, y): return x if x < y else y

A utility function to get the

middle index from corner indexes.

def getMid(s, e): return s + (e - s) // 2

A recursive function to get the

minimum value in a given range of array

def RMQUtil(st, ss, se, qs, qe, index):

# If segment of this node is a part of given range
# then return the min of the segment
if qs <= ss and qe >= se:
    return st[index]

# If segment of this node is outside the range
if se < qs or ss > qe:
    return float('inf')

# If a part of this segment
# overlaps with the given range
mid = getMid(ss, se)
return minVal(RMQUtil(st, ss, mid, qs, qe, 2 * index + 1),
              RMQUtil(st, mid + 1, se, qs, qe, 2 * index + 2))

Return minimum of elements in range

from index qs to qe

def RMQ(st, n, qs, qe):

# Check for invalid input
if qs < 0 or qe > n - 1 or qs > qe:
    print("Invalid Input")
    return -1
return RMQUtil(st, 0, n - 1, qs, qe, 0)

A recursive function that constructs

Segment Tree for array[ss..se].

def constructSTUtil(arr, ss, se, st, si):

# If there is one element in array,
# store it in current node of 
# segment tree and return 
if ss == se:
    st[si] = arr[ss]
    return arr[ss]

# If there are more than one elements, 
# then recur for left and right subtrees 
# and store the minimum of two values in this node 
mid = getMid(ss, se)
st[si] = minVal(constructSTUtil(arr, ss, mid, st, si * 2 + 1),
                constructSTUtil(arr, mid + 1, se, st, si * 2 + 2))
return st[si]

Function to construct segment tree

def constructST(arr, n):

# Height of segment tree
x = (n - 1).bit_length()

# Maximum size of segment tree
max_size = 2 * (2**x) - 1

st = [0] * max_size

# Fill the allocated memory st
constructSTUtil(arr, 0, n - 1, st, 0)

# Return the constructed segment tree
return st

if name == "main" : arr = [1, 3, 2, 7, 9, 11] n = len(arr)

# Build segment tree from given array
st = constructST(arr, n)

# Starting index of query range
qs = 1

# Ending index of query range
qe = 5

# Print minimum value in arr[qs..qe]
print(f"Minimum of values in range [{qs}, {qe}] is = {RMQ(st, n, qs, qe)}")

C#

// C# program for range minimum // query using segment tree using System; using System.Collections.Generic;

class GFG {

// A utility function to get minimum of two numbers
static int minVal(int x, int y) {
    return (x < y) ? x : y;
}

// A utility function to get the 
// middle index from corner indexes.
static int getMid(int s, int e) {
    return s + (e - s) / 2;
}

// A recursive function to get the
// minimum value in a given range of array
static int RMQUtil(int[] st, int ss, int se, 
                    int qs, int qe, int index) {
                        
    // If segment of this node is a part of given range
    // then return the min of the segment
    if (qs <= ss && qe >= se)
        return st[index];

    // If segment of this node is outside the range
    if (se < qs || ss > qe)
        return int.MaxValue;

    // If a part of this segment
    // overlaps with the given range
    int mid = getMid(ss, se);
    return minVal(RMQUtil(st, ss, mid, qs, qe, 2 * index + 1),
                  RMQUtil(st, mid + 1, se, qs, qe, 2 * index + 2));
}

// Return minimum of elements in range
// from index qs to qe
static int RMQ(int[] st, int n, int qs, int qe) {
    
    // Check for invalid input
    if (qs < 0 || qe > n - 1 || qs > qe) {
        Console.WriteLine("Invalid Input");
        return -1;
    }
    return RMQUtil(st, 0, n - 1, qs, qe, 0);
}

// A recursive function that constructs
// Segment Tree for array[ss..se]. 
static int constructSTUtil(int[] arr, int ss, 
                    int se, int[] st, int si) {
                        
    // If there is one element in array,
    // store it in current node of 
    // segment tree and return 
    if (ss == se) {
        st[si] = arr[ss];
        return arr[ss];
    }

    // If there are more than one elements, 
    // then recur for left and right subtrees 
    // and store the minimum of two values in this node 
    int mid = getMid(ss, se);
    st[si] = minVal(constructSTUtil(arr, ss, mid, st, si * 2 + 1),
                    constructSTUtil(arr, mid + 1, se, st, si * 2 + 2));
    return st[si];
}

// Function to construct segment tree
static int[] constructST(int[] arr, int n) {
    
    // Height of segment tree
    int x = (int)Math.Ceiling(Math.Log(n) / Math.Log(2));

    // Maximum size of segment tree
    int max_size = 2 * (int)Math.Pow(2, x) - 1;

    int[] st = new int[max_size];

    // Fill the allocated memory st
    constructSTUtil(arr, 0, n - 1, st, 0);

    // Return the constructed segment tree
    return st;
}

static void Main() {
    int[] arr = {1, 3, 2, 7, 9, 11};
    int n = arr.Length;

    // Build segment tree from given array
    int[] st = constructST(arr, n);

    // Starting index of query range
    int qs = 1;

    // Ending index of query range
    int qe = 5;

    // Print minimum value in arr[qs..qe]
    Console.WriteLine("Minimum of values in range [" + qs + ", " + qe + "] " +
                      "is = " + RMQ(st, n, qs, qe));
}

}

` JavaScript ``

// A utility function to get minimum of two numbers function minVal(x, y) { return (x < y) ? x : y; }

// A utility function to get the // middle index from corner indexes. function getMid(s, e) { return s + Math.floor((e - s) / 2); }

// A recursive function to get the // minimum value in a given range of array function RMQUtil(st, ss, se, qs, qe, index) {

// If segment of this node is a part of given range
// then return the min of the segment
if (qs <= ss && qe >= se)
    return st[index];

// If segment of this node is outside the range
if (se < qs || ss > qe)
    return Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER;

// If a part of this segment
// overlaps with the given range
let mid = getMid(ss, se);
return minVal(RMQUtil(st, ss, mid, qs, qe, 2 * index + 1),
              RMQUtil(st, mid + 1, se, qs, qe, 2 * index + 2));

}

// Return minimum of elements in range // from index qs to qe function RMQ(st, n, qs, qe) {

// Check for invalid input
if (qs < 0 || qe > n - 1 || qs > qe) {
    console.log("Invalid Input");
    return -1;
}
return RMQUtil(st, 0, n - 1, qs, qe, 0);

}

// A recursive function that constructs // Segment Tree for array[ss..se]. function constructSTUtil(arr, ss, se, st, si) {

// If there is one element in array,
// store it in current node of 
// segment tree and return 
if (ss === se) {
    st[si] = arr[ss];
    return arr[ss];
}

// If there are more than one elements, 
// then recur for left and right subtrees 
// and store the minimum of two values in this node 
let mid = getMid(ss, se);
st[si] = minVal(constructSTUtil(arr, ss, mid, st, si * 2 + 1),
                constructSTUtil(arr, mid + 1, se, st, si * 2 + 2));
return st[si];

}

// Function to construct segment tree function constructST(arr, n) {

// Height of segment tree
let x = Math.ceil(Math.log2(n));

// Maximum size of segment tree
let max_size = 2 * Math.pow(2, x) - 1;

let st = new Array(max_size).fill(0);

// Fill the allocated memory st
constructSTUtil(arr, 0, n - 1, st, 0);

// Return the constructed segment tree
return st;

}

// Main function function main() { let arr = [1, 3, 2, 7, 9, 11]; let n = arr.length;

// Build segment tree from given array
let st = constructST(arr, n);

// Starting index of query range
let qs = 1;

// Ending index of query range
let qe = 5;

// Print minimum value in arr[qs..qe]
console.log(`Minimum of values in range [${qs}, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-mathml"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><semantics><mrow><mrow><mi>q</mi><mi>e</mi></mrow><mo stretchy="false">]</mo><mi>i</mi><mi>s</mi><mo>=</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{qe}] is = </annotation></semantics></math></span><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1em;vertical-align:-0.25em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.03588em;">q</span><span class="mord mathnormal">e</span></span><span class="mclose">]</span><span class="mord mathnormal">i</span><span class="mord mathnormal">s</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span></span></span></span>{RMQ(st, n, qs, qe)}`);

}

main();

``

**Output:

Minimum of values in range [1, 5] is = 2

**Time Complexity:

**Auxiliary Space: O(n), since n extra space has been taken.

Further read
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/range-minimum-query-for-static-array/