Question

Write an algorithm that prints out all the subsets of three elements of a set of \(n\) elements. The elements of this set are stored in a list that is the input to the algorithm.

Short answer

The algorithm involves creating a helper function to generate all subsets of size 3. The Python itertools.combinations() function can be used for this task. After generating the subsets, the algorithm will print them.

Step-by-step solution

Creating a Helper Function

Create a helper function that generates all subsets of a specific size from a given set, for this case, the size is 3. In Python, a handy function for this in the itertools module is combinations(). This function takes two parameters: the list (iterable), and the length of the subsets to be created (r). It returns an iterator that produces all possible subsets of the given length from the provided list.

Using the Helper Function

Use the helper function on the provided list of elements to generate all subsets of size three. As the combinations() function outputs an iterator, convert the output into a list so it's easier to work with.

Printing the Subsets

Print the subsets. This step could imply iterating through the list of subsets and printing each one, or just printing the entire list, depending on the specific requirements of the exercise.