Question

I have this algorithm written in PHP for my project:

<?php
$s = "abc"; //input -- string


$n = strlen($s);
$b = 0;
for ($i = 0; $i < $n; $i++)
{
$b += ord($s[$i]) * pow(31, ($n - ($i + 1)));
}


echo $b; //output -- int
?>

But now I have to reverse it to take the string from integer. I tried but it failed, is there any way to reverse it?

EDIT: By “any way” I meant that it doesn’t have to reverse to the original text, but only to reverse to text that gives that value.

Answer 1

IF the string can be guaranteed to only have lowercase letters on it, it can; you’ll have to figure out the maths for it (I suggest you work out in paper the algorithm, leaving the letters as variables; solve the equations and you’ll see how to reverse it).

If the string is arbitrary, then no; because you’re converting each character to a base-31 representation of the number, shifting it and adding the results — however, this addition has lots of carries, so you can’t work out the original characters just from the digits (that is, the final number) of the result.

EDIT: given your edit, then yes, it is possible. It can be a bit complicated, though — i’ll leave you to work out the maths yourself. Try juggling a bit with the number 31.