Problem
Here's what Charlie thinks of. Imagine you get a sequence of N numbers. The goal is to move the numbers around so that at the end the sequence is ordered. The only operation allowed is to swap two adjacent numbers. Let us try an example:
Start with: 2 8 0 3
swap (2 8) 8 2 0 3
swap (2 0) 8 0 2 3
swap (2 3) 8 0 3 2
swap (8 0) 0 8 3 2
swap (8 3) 0 3 8 2
swap (8 2) 0 3 2 8
swap (3 2) 0 2 3 8
swap (3 8) 0 2 8 3
swap (8 3) 0 2 3 8
So the sequence (2 8 0 3) can be sorted with nine swaps of adjacent numbers. However, it is even possible to sort it with three such swaps:
Start with: 2 8 0 3
swap (8 0) 2 0 8 3
swap (2 0) 0 2 8 3
swap (8 3) 0 2 3 8
The question is: What is the minimum number of swaps of adjacent numbers to sort a given sequence?Since Charlie does not have Raymond's mental capabilities, he decides to cheat. Here is where you come into play. He asks