Longest Palindrome in a String formed by concatenating its prefix and suffix

0 0 10 minutes read

Given a string str consisting of lowercase English letters, the task is to find the longest palindromic string T which satisfies the following condition:

T = p + m + s where p and s are the prefix and the suffix of the given string str respectively and the string m is either the prefix or suffix of the string str after removing both p and s from it.
The string formed by the concatenation of p and s is a palindrome itself.
Either of the strings p and s can be an empty string.

Examples:

Input: str = “abcdfdcecba”
Output: abcdfdcba
Explanation:
Here, p = “abc”
s = “cba”
m = “dfd”
p + s = “abccba” which is a palindrome and m = “dfd” is the prefix after removing the prefix and suffix from the string str. Therefore, T = “abcdfdcba”.

Input: str = “zambiatek”
Output: g
Explanation:
Here, p = “”
s = “g”
m = “”
p + s = “” which is a palindrome and m = “g” is the prefix after removing the prefix and suffix from the string str. Therefore, T = “g”.

Approach: The idea for this problem is to divide the answer into three parts, such that there will be a part of suffix and prefix of the given string which forms palindrome together which will form the beginning and the ending of the answer string. Now, after removing these prefix and suffix from the given string, we can find the maximum length suffix or prefix string (which we may call midPalindrome) which is palindromic.
Therefore, the answer string will be given by:

answer = prefix + midPalindrome + suffix

The following steps can be followed to compute the answer to the problem:

Find the length up to which the suffix and prefix of str form a palindrome together.
Remove the suffix and prefix substrings that already form a palindrome from str and store them in separate strings.
Check all prefix and suffix substrings in the remaining string str and find the longest of such strings.
Finally, combine all three parts of the answer and return it.

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program to find the longest 
// palindrome in a string formed by 
// concatenating its prefix and suffix
 
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to check whether
// the string is a palindrome
bool isPalindrome(string r)
{
    string p = r;
 
    // Reverse the string to
    // compare with the
    // original string
    reverse(p.begin(), p.end());
 
    // Check if both are same
    return (r == p);
}
 
// Function to find the longest
// palindrome in a string formed by
// concatenating its prefix and suffix
string PrefixSuffixPalindrome(string str)
{
    // Length of the string
    int n = str.size(), len = 0;
 
    // Finding the length upto which
    // the suffix and prefix forms a
    // palindrome together
    for (int i = 0; i < n / 2; i++) {
        if (str[i] != str[n - i - 1]) {
            len = i;
            break;
        }
    }
 
    // Check whether the string
    // has prefix and suffix substrings
    // which are palindromes.
    string prefix = "", suffix = "";
    string midPal = "";
 
    // Removing the suffix and prefix
    // substrings which already forms
    // a palindrome and storing them
    // in separate strings
    prefix = str.substr(0, len);
    suffix = str.substr(n - len);
    str = str.substr(len, n - 2 * len);
 
    // Check all prefix substrings
    // in the remaining string str
    for (int i = 1; i <= str.size(); i++) {
        string y = str.substr(0, i);
 
        // Check if the prefix substring
        // is a palindrome
        if (isPalindrome(y)) {
 
            // If the prefix substring
            // is a palindrome then check
            // if it is of maximum length
            // so far
            if (midPal.size() < y.size()) {
                midPal = y;
            }
        }
    }
 
    // Check all the suffix substrings
    // in the remaining string str
    for (int i = 1; i <= str.size(); i++) {
        string y = str.substr(str.size() - i);
 
        // Check if the suffix substring
        // is a palindrome
        if (isPalindrome(y)) {
 
            // If the suffix substring
            // is a palindrome then check
            // if it is of maximum length
            // so far
            if (midPal.size() < y.size()) {
                midPal = y;
            }
        }
    }
 
    // Combining all the three parts
    // of the answer
    string answer = prefix + midPal + suffix;
 
    return answer;
}
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    string str = "abcdfdcecba";
 
    cout << PrefixSuffixPalindrome(str) << "\n";
 
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program to find the longest 
// palindrome in a String formed by 
// concatenating its prefix and suffix
import java.util.*;
 
class GFG{
  
// Function to check whether
// the String is a palindrome
static boolean isPalindrome(String r)
{
    String p = r;
  
    // Reverse the String to
    // compare with the
    // original String
    p = reverse(p);
  
    // Check if both are same
    return (r.equals(p));
}
  
// Function to find the longest
// palindrome in a String formed by
// concatenating its prefix and suffix
static String PrefixSuffixPalindrome(String str)
{
    // Length of the String
    int n = str.length(), len = 0;
  
    // Finding the length upto which
    // the suffix and prefix forms a
    // palindrome together
    for (int i = 0; i < n / 2; i++) {
        if (str.charAt(i) != str.charAt(n - i - 1)) {
            len = i;
            break;
        }
    }
  
    // Check whether the String
    // has prefix and suffix subStrings
    // which are palindromes.
    String prefix = "", suffix = "";
    String midPal = "";
  
    // Removing the suffix and prefix
    // subStrings which already forms
    // a palindrome and storing them
    // in separate Strings
    prefix = str.substring(0, len);
    suffix = str.substring(n - len);
    str = str.substring(len, (n - 2 * len) + len);
  
    // Check all prefix subStrings
    // in the remaining String str
    for (int i = 1; i <= str.length(); i++) {
        String y = str.substring(0, i);
  
        // Check if the prefix subString
        // is a palindrome
        if (isPalindrome(y)) {
  
            // If the prefix subString
            // is a palindrome then check
            // if it is of maximum length
            // so far
            if (midPal.length() < y.length()) {
                midPal = y;
            }
        }
    }
  
    // Check all the suffix subStrings
    // in the remaining String str
    for (int i = 1; i <= str.length(); i++) {
        String y = str.substring(str.length() - i);
  
        // Check if the suffix subString
        // is a palindrome
        if (isPalindrome(y)) {
  
            // If the suffix subString
            // is a palindrome then check
            // if it is of maximum length
            // so far
            if (midPal.length() < y.length()) {
                midPal = y;
            }
        }
    }
  
    // Combining all the parts
    // of the answer
    String answer = prefix + midPal + suffix;
  
    return answer;
}
static String reverse(String input) {
    char[] a = input.toCharArray();
    int l, r = a.length - 1;
    for (l = 0; l < r; l++, r--) {
        char temp = a[l];
        a[l] = a[r];
        a[r] = temp;
    }
    return String.valueOf(a);
}
  
// Driver code
public static void main(String[] args)
{
    String str = "abcdfdcecba";
  
    System.out.print(PrefixSuffixPalindrome(str));
}
}
 
// This code is contributed by 29AjayKumar

Python3

# Python3 program to find the longest 
# palindrome in a string formed by 
# concatenating its prefix and suffix
  
# Function to check whether
# the string is a palindrome
def isPalindrome(r):
 
    p = r
  
    # Reverse the string to
    # compare with the
    # original string
    p = "".join(reversed(p))
  
    # Check if both are same
    return (r == p)
  
# Function to find the longest
# palindrome in a string formed by
# concatenating its prefix and suffix
def PrefixSuffixPalindrome(st):
 
    # Length of the string
    n = len(st)
    length = 0
  
    # Finding the length upto which
    # the suffix and prefix forms a
    # palindrome together
    for i in range( n // 2):
        if (st[i] != st[n - i - 1]):
            length = i
            break
  
    # Check whether the string
    # has prefix and suffix substrings
    # which are palindromes.
    prefix = ""
    suffix = ""
    midPal = ""
  
    # Removing the suffix and prefix
    # substrings which already forms
    # a palindrome and storing them
    # in separate strings
    prefix = st[:length]
    suffix = st[n - length:]
    st = st[length: n - 2 * length+length]
 
    # Check all prefix substrings
    # in the remaining string str
    for i in range(1,len(st)+1):
        y = st[0: i]
  
        # Check if the prefix substring
        # is a palindrome
        if (isPalindrome(y)):
  
            # If the prefix substring
            # is a palindrome then check
            # if it is of maximum length
            # so far
            if (len(midPal) < len(y)):
                midPal = y
  
    # Check all the suffix substrings
    # in the remaining string str
    for i in range(1,len(st)+1):
        y = st[len(st)-i]
  
        # Check if the suffix substring
        # is a palindrome
        if (isPalindrome(y)):
  
            # If the suffix substring
            # is a palindrome then check
            # if it is of maximum length
            # so far
            if (len(midPal) < len(y)):
                midPal = y
  
    # Combining all the parts
    # of the answer
    answer = prefix + midPal + suffix
  
    return answer
  
# Driver code
if __name__ == "__main__":
     
    st = "abcdfdcecba";
  
    print(PrefixSuffixPalindrome(st))
  
# This code is contributed by chitranayal
    

C#

// C# program to find the longest 
// palindrome in a String formed by 
// concatenating its prefix and suffix
using System;
 
class GFG{
   
// Function to check whether
// the String is a palindrome
static bool isPalindrome(String r)
{
    String p = r;
   
    // Reverse the String to
    // compare with the
    // original String
    p = reverse(p);
   
    // Check if both are same
    return (r.Equals(p));
}
   
// Function to find the longest
// palindrome in a String formed by
// concatenating its prefix and suffix
static String PrefixSuffixPalindrome(String str)
{
    // Length of the String
    int n = str.Length, len = 0;
   
    // Finding the length upto which
    // the suffix and prefix forms a
    // palindrome together
    for (int i = 0; i < n / 2; i++) {
        if (str[i] != str[n - i - 1]) {
            len = i;
            break;
        }
    }
   
    // Check whether the String
    // has prefix and suffix subStrings
    // which are palindromes.
    String prefix = "", suffix = "";
    String midPal = "";
   
    // Removing the suffix and prefix
    // subStrings which already forms
    // a palindrome and storing them
    // in separate Strings
    prefix = str.Substring(0, len);
    suffix = str.Substring(n - len);
    str = str.Substring(len, (n - 2 * len) + len);
   
    // Check all prefix subStrings
    // in the remaining String str
    for (int i = 1; i <= str.Length; i++) {
        String y = str.Substring(0, i);
   
        // Check if the prefix subString
        // is a palindrome
        if (isPalindrome(y)) {
   
            // If the prefix subString
            // is a palindrome then check
            // if it is of maximum length
            // so far
            if (midPal.Length < y.Length) {
                midPal = y;
            }
        }
    }
   
    // Check all the suffix subStrings
    // in the remaining String str
    for (int i = 1; i <= str.Length; i++) {
        String y = str.Substring(str.Length - i);
   
        // Check if the suffix subString
        // is a palindrome
        if (isPalindrome(y)) {
   
            // If the suffix subString
            // is a palindrome then check
            // if it is of maximum length
            // so far
            if (midPal.Length < y.Length) {
                midPal = y;
            }
        }
    }
   
    // Combining all the parts
    // of the answer
    String answer = prefix + midPal + suffix;
   
    return answer;
}
static String reverse(String input) {
    char[] a = input.ToCharArray();
    int l, r = a.Length - 1;
    for (l = 0; l < r; l++, r--) {
        char temp = a[l];
        a[l] = a[r];
        a[r] = temp;
    }
    return String.Join("",a);
}
   
// Driver code
public static void Main(String[] args)
{
    String str = "abcdfdcecba";
   
    Console.Write(PrefixSuffixPalindrome(str));
}
}
  
// This code is contributed by 29AjayKumar

Javascript

<script>
// Javascript program to find the longest 
// palindrome in a String formed by 
// concatenating its prefix and suffix
 
// Function to check whether
// the String is a palindrome
function isPalindrome(r)
{
    let p = r;
    
    // Reverse the String to
    // compare with the
    // original String
    p = reverse(p);
    
    // Check if both are same
    return (r == (p));
}
 
// Function to find the longest
// palindrome in a String formed by
// concatenating its prefix and suffix
function PrefixSuffixPalindrome(str)
{
    // Length of the String
    let n = str.length, len = 0;
    
    // Finding the length upto which
    // the suffix and prefix forms a
    // palindrome together
    for (let i = 0; i < n / 2; i++) {
        if (str[i] != str[n - i - 1]) {
            len = i;
            break;
        }
    }
    
    // Check whether the String
    // has prefix and suffix subStrings
    // which are palindromes.
    let prefix = "", suffix = "";
    let midPal = "";
    
    // Removing the suffix and prefix
    // subStrings which already forms
    // a palindrome and storing them
    // in separate Strings
    prefix = str.substring(0, len);
    suffix = str.substring(n - len);
    str = str.substring(len, (n - 2 * len) + len);
    
    // Check all prefix subStrings
    // in the remaining String str
    for (let i = 1; i <= str.length; i++) {
        let y = str.substring(0, i);
    
        // Check if the prefix subString
        // is a palindrome
        if (isPalindrome(y)) {
    
            // If the prefix subString
            // is a palindrome then check
            // if it is of maximum length
            // so far
            if (midPal.length < y.length) {
                midPal = y;
            }
        }
    }
    
    // Check all the suffix subStrings
    // in the remaining String str
    for (let i = 1; i <= str.length; i++) {
        let y = str.substring(str.length - i);
    
        // Check if the suffix subString
        // is a palindrome
        if (isPalindrome(y)) {
    
            // If the suffix subString
            // is a palindrome then check
            // if it is of maximum length
            // so far
            if (midPal.length < y.length) {
                midPal = y;
            }
        }
    }
    
    // Combining all the parts
    // of the answer
    let answer = prefix + midPal + suffix;
    
    return answer;
}
 
function reverse(input)
{
    let a = input.split("");
    let l, r = a.length - 1;
    for (l = 0; l < r; l++, r--) {
        let temp = a[l];
        a[l] = a[r];
        a[r] = temp;
    }
    return (a).join("");
}
 
// Driver code
let str = "abcdfdcecba";
document.write(PrefixSuffixPalindrome(str));
 
// This code is contributed by avanitrachhadiya2155
</script>

Output:

abcdfdcba

Time Complexity: O(n²)
Auxiliary Space: O(n), where n is the length of the given string.

Feeling lost in the world of random DSA topics, wasting time without progress? It’s time for a change! Join our DSA course, where we’ll guide you on an exciting journey to master DSA efficiently and on schedule.
Ready to dive in? Explore our Free Demo Content and join our DSA course, trusted by over 100,000 zambiatek!