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I came with this interesting question and could understand how did we get to this equation: $(k-1)2^h + k(2^{h-1}+1) \leq 2^{\lfloor\lg (n)\rfloor}$

But in the next step, it reached to the following step which I cannot understand. Please help me out in understanding this:

$k\leq \frac{n+2^h}{2^{h+1}+2^h+1} \leq \frac{n}{2^{h+1}}\leq \left\lceil\frac{n}{2^{h+1}}\right\rceil$ Reference: Problem 6.3.3, CLRS. Difficulty understanding the solution of heap problem in CLRS book?

Thank you.

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Before starting, let me note that there seems to be an "off by 1" issue with the way that height is measured. It seems that you should replace $h$ throughout with $h+1$.

First of all, let us notice that $2^{\lfloor \lg n \rfloor} \leq 2^{\lg n} \leq n$. Therefore $$ (k-1)2^h + k(2^{h-1} + 1) \leq n. $$ Next, notice that $$ (k-1)2^h + k(2^{h-1} + 1) = k(2^h + 2^{h-1} + 1) - 2^h. $$ Therefore $$ k(2^h + 2^{h-1} + 1) \leq n + 2^h. $$ This immediately implies that $$ k \leq \frac{n + 2^h}{2^h + 2^{h-1} + 1} \leq \frac{n + 2^h}{2^h + 2^{h-1}} = \frac{n + 2^h}{(3/2)2^h}. $$

Now, $h + 1 = \lfloor \lg n \rfloor \le \lg n$, and so $2^{h+1} \leq n$, implying $2^h \leq n/2$. Therefore $$ k \leq \frac{n+2^h}{(3/2)2^h} \leq \frac{n+n/2}{(3/2)2^h} = \frac{(3/2)n}{(3/2)2^h} = \frac{n}{2^h} \leq \left\lceil \frac{n}{2^h} \right\rceil. $$

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  • $\begingroup$ Could you please let me know on that off by 1 issue? $\endgroup$ Apr 28, 2020 at 17:08
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    $\begingroup$ That's right. It's your premise. The other inequalities are the conclusions you want to draw from the premise. $\endgroup$ Apr 28, 2020 at 17:15
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    $\begingroup$ I just gave you the derivation. If you start with your premise, you don't get you conclusion. But curiously, you get the exact same expression but with $h$ replaced with $h-1$. I don't think it's a coincidence. $\endgroup$ Apr 28, 2020 at 17:22
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    $\begingroup$ The pair $(h,h-1)$ is the same as the pair $(h+1,h)$. It depends on your point of view. $\endgroup$ Apr 28, 2020 at 18:08
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    $\begingroup$ I added some more details. However, I should warn you that the ability to carry out such algebraic manipulations is necessary to succeed in your class. During the exam I won't be available to point out each and every small step. $\endgroup$ Apr 29, 2020 at 8:28

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