Median of 2 Sorted Arrays of Equal Size using JavaScript

Last Updated : 03 Apr, 2024

The median is the middle element of the array. If several elements are odd then the middle element is the median and if several elements are even then the average of the two middle values is the median after arranging the array in sorted order.

Below are the approaches to find the median of 2 sorted arrays of equal size using JavaScript:

Table of Content

Using Simple merging
Using Modified Binary Search

Using Simple merging

Merge the two given sorted arrays and sort them using the sort() method. If the length of the merged array is even then return the middle element as the median else if the length is even then return the average of the two middle elements.

Example: To demonstrate finding the Median of 2 sorted arrays of equal size using merging

JavaScript

function MedianOfSortedArrays(nums1, nums2) {
    const mergedArray = nums1
        .concat(nums2)
        .sort((a, b) => a - b);
    const n = mergedArray.length;
    if (n % 2 === 0) {
        return (mergedArray[n / 2 - 1] + mergedArray[n / 2]) / 2;
    } else {
        return mergedArray[Math.floor(n / 2)];
    }
}
const nums1 = [1, 2, 3];
const nums2 = [4];
console.log(
    "Median of 2 sorted array is :", MedianOfSortedArrays(nums1, nums2));

Output

Median of 2 sorted array is : 2.5

Time Complexity: O(m + n) , m and n are size of input array.

Space Complexity: O(1) , constant space.

Using Modified Binary Search

We will first check if lengths of array are equal or not. Then we apply Binary search to find the correct position to partition the arrays. Now we find the maximum and minimum values on the left and right sides of the partition for both arrays and Check conditions for median if the total number of elements is even or odd. Return the median value accordingly . If condition is not met we Adjust partition based on conditions and Repeat the binary search process until median is found. When the correct partition is found, return the calculated median value.

Example: To demonstrate finding Median of 2 sorted arrays of equal size using merging

JavaScript

function findMedianSortedArrays(nums1, nums2) {
    const m = nums1
        .length;
    const n = nums2
        .length;


    if (m > n) return findMedianSortedArrays(nums2, nums1);

    let low = 0;
    let high = m;

    while (low <= high) {
        const partitionX = Math
            .floor((low + high) / 2);
        const partitionY = Math
            .floor((m + n + 1) / 2) - partitionX;

        const maxX = partitionX === 0 ?
            Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY : nums1[partitionX - 1];
        const maxY = partitionY === 0 ?
            Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY : nums2[partitionY - 1];
        const minX = partitionX === m ?
            Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY : nums1[partitionX];
        const minY = partitionY === n ?
            Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY : nums2[partitionY];

        if (maxX <= minY && maxY <= minX) {
            if ((m + n) % 2 === 0) {
                return (
                    Math
                        .max(maxX, maxY)
                    +
                    Math
                        .min(minX, minY)) / 2;
            } else {
                return Math.max(maxX, maxY);
            }
        } else if (maxX > minY) {
            high = partitionX - 1;
        } else {
            low = partitionX + 1;
        }
    }
}

const nums1 = [1, 2, 3];
const nums2 = [4];
console.log(findMedianSortedArrays(nums1, nums2));

Output

2.5

Time Complexity: O(log(min(m,n)

Space Complexity: O(1)

Median of 2 Sorted Arrays of Equal Size using JavaScript

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Median of 2 Sorted Arrays of Equal Size using JavaScript

Using Simple merging

Using Modified Binary Search

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