Naive Approach of FizzBuzz program
The FizzBuzz program can be written using the modulo operator and if-else statements. In this approach, the divisibility test for 15, 3, and 5 are done individually to print the required output.
Pseudo Code:
for i = 1 to n
if i % 15 equals to 0
print "FizzBuzz"
else if i % 3 equals to 0
print "Fizz"
else if i % 5 equals to 0
print "Buzz"
else
print i
Modulo is a costly operator and should be used the minimum number of times. This approach can be optimized using the if statement and a boolean flag variable. The flag variable is used to check if the number is divisible by 3 and 5. If divisible, the next line is printed; else, the number itself is printed.
for i = 1 to n
initialize a flag variable with false value to check if none of the conditions matches
if i % 3 equals to 0
print "Fizz"
set flag to true
if i % 5 equals to 0
print "Buzz"
set flag to true
if flag is true
print endline
else
print i
In this case, the modulo operator is used only two times.
Implementation in Java, C++, Python
Java
class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
// let n be 15
int n = 15;
for(int i = 1; i <= n ; i++) {
// check if none of the conditions matches
boolean flag = false;
// prints Fizz if divisible by 3
if(i % 3 == 0) {
System.out.print("Fizz");
flag = true;
}
// prints Buzz if divisible by 5
if(i % 5 == 0) {
System.out.print("Buzz");
flag = true;
}
// prints the nextline if divisible by 3, 5, or both
if(flag)
System.out.println();
// prints i if not divisible by 3 and 5
else
System.out.println(i);
}
}
}

You can also try this code with Online Java Compiler
Run Code
C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
int n = 15;
for(int i = 1; i <= n ; i++) {
// check if none of the conditions matches
bool flag = false;
// prints Fizz if divisible by 3
if(i % 3 == 0) {
cout<<"Fizz";
flag = true;
}
// prints Buzz if divisible by 5
if(i % 5 == 0) {
cout<< "Buzz";
flag = true;
}
// prints the nextline if divisible by 3, 5, or both
if(flag)
cout<<endl;
// prints i if not divisible by 3 and 5
else
cout<<i<<endl;
}
}

You can also try this code with Online C++ Compiler
Run Code
Python
# Let n be 15
n = 15
for i in range(1,n+1):
# check if none of the conditions matches
flag = False
# prints Fizz if divisible by 3
if i % 3 == 0:
print("Fizz",end='')
flag = True
# prints Buzz if divisible by 5
if i % 5 == 0:
print("Buzz",end='')
flag = True
# prints the nextline if divisible by 3, 5, or both
if flag:
print()
# prints i if not divisible by 3 and 5
else:
print(i)

You can also try this code with Online Python Compiler
Run Code
Output
1
2
Fizz
4
Buzz
Fizz
7
8
Fizz
Buzz
11
Fizz
13
14
FizzBuzz
Time Complexity: O(N)
Space Complexity: O(1)
Optimized Approach of FizzBuzz Program
The above approach is not suitable for large numbers. This is because the computational complexity is O(N^2) for the modulo operator, making it slow for large numbers.
A number is divisible by another number if it is a multiple of the other number. Multiplication is basically the repeated addition of a number. This concept will be used to solve the FizzBuzz program.
In this approach, a count variable is repeatedly incremented by 1. The divisibility test is then done by comparing the count variable with the number. This eliminates the need for the modulo operator.
The variables count3 and count5 are incremented by 1 every time the number is not divisible by 3 and 5. If count3 is equal to 3, the number is a multiple of 3. Similarly, the number is a multiple of 5 when count5 is equal to 5. The count variable is set to 0 again when these conditions are met.
This is an effective way to solve the FizzBuzz program. The count variables will be increased in every iteration, and the divisibility of the number will be verified using the assignment operator.
Pseudo Code:
initialize count3, count5 with 0
for i = 1 to n
increment count3 and count5
initialize a flag variable with false value to check if none of the conditions matches
if count3 equals to 3
print "Fizz"
set flag to true
set count3 to 0
if count5 equals to 5
print "Buzz"
set flag to true
set count5 to 0
if flag is true
print endline
else
print i
Implementation in Java, C++, Python
Java
class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
// let n be 15
int n = 15, count3 = 0, count5 = 0;
for(int i = 1; i <= n ; i++) {
count3++;
count5++;
// check if none of the conditions matches
boolean flag = false;
// prints Fizz if divisible by 3
if(count3 == 3) {
System.out.print("Fizz");
flag = true;
count3 = 0;
}
// prints Buzz if divisible by 5
if(count5 == 5) {
System.out.print("Buzz");
flag = true;
count5 = 0;
}
// prints the nextline if divisible by 3, 5, or both
if(flag)
System.out.println();
// prints i if not divisible by 3 and 5
else
System.out.println(i);
}
}
}

You can also try this code with Online Java Compiler
Run Code
C++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
// let n be 15
int n = 15, count3 = 0, count5 = 0;
for(int i = 1; i <= n ; i++) {
count3++;
count5++;
// check if none of the conditions matches
bool flag = false;
// prints Fizz if divisible by 3
if(count3 == 3) {
cout<<"Fizz";
flag = true;
count3 = 0;
}
// prints Buzz if divisible by 5
if(count5 == 5) {
cout<<"Buzz";
flag = true;
count5 = 0;
}
// prints the nextline if divisible by 3, 5, or both
if(flag)
cout<<endl;
// prints i if not divisible by 3 and 5
else
cout<<i<<endl;
}
}

You can also try this code with Online C++ Compiler
Run Code
Python
# Let n be 15
n = 15
count3 = 0
count5 = 0
for i in range(1,n+1):
count3 = count3 + 1
count5 = count5 + 1
# check if none of the conditions matches
flag = False
# prints Fizz if divisible by 3
if count3 == 3:
print("Fizz",end='')
flag = True
count3 = 0
# prints Buzz if divisible by 5
if count5 == 5:
print("Buzz",end='')
flag = True
count5 = 0
# prints the nextline if divisible by 3, 5, or both
if flag:
print()
# prints i if not divisible by 3 and 5
else:
print(i)

You can also try this code with Online Python Compiler
Run Code
Output:
1
2
Fizz
4
Buzz
Fizz
7
8
Fizz
Buzz
11
Fizz
13
14
FizzBuzz
Time Complexity: O(N)
Space Complexity: O(1)
Variations of the FizzBuzz Program
The FizzBuzz program can be modified in various ways. Some of the variations are:-
-
Changing the divisibility number: Any other number other than 3 and 5 can be asked. In that case, change the if conditions accordingly.
-
Changing the result on divisibility check: Instead of FizzBuzz, some other results like HelloWorld can be asked. In that case, change the print statement accordingly.
-
Replace the number containing the digits 3 and 5:
Problem Statement: Check the digits of the number and print “Fizz” if the number contains the digit 3, print “Buzz” if the number contains the digit 5, else print the number itself.
In this individual digits have to be checked. If the number contains 3 print “Fizz” and “Buzz” if the number contains 5.
Pseudo-code:
for i to n
initialize a temp variable with i
initialize result, an empty string
initialize a flag variable with false value to check if none of the conditions matches
while temp > 0
initialize a variable remainder to obtain the last digit and set it to temp % 10
set temp to temp/10
if remainder equals to 3
set result = "Fizz" + result
set flag to true
if remainder equals to 5
set result = "Buzz" + result
set flag to true
if flag is false
set result = remainder + result
print result
Output when n = 15:
1
2
Fizz
4
Buzz
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Fizz
14
Buzz
1. Replace only the digits 3 and 5 in the number:
Problem Statement: Check the digits of the number and print “Fizz” in the place of 3, print “Buzz” in the place of 5, else print the number itself.
In this individual digits have to be checked. If the digit is 3 print “Fizz” only in that and “Buzz” if the digit is 5
Pseudo-code:
for i to n
initialize a temp variable with i
initialize result, an empty string
while temp > 0
initialize a flag variable with false value to check if none of the conditions matches
initialize a variable remainder to obtain the last digit and set it to temp % 10
set temp to temp/10
if remainder equals to 3
set result = "Fizz" + result
set flag to true
if remainder equals to 5
set result = "Buzz" + result
set flag to true
if flag is false
set result = remainder + result
print result
Output when n = 15:
1
2
Fizz
4
Buzz
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1Fizz
14
1Buzz
2. Change direction after the occurrence of a number divisible by 3 and 5.
Problem Statement: Initially print “Fizz” for a number divisible by 3 and “Buzz” for a number divisible by 5. Then the words are interchanged when a number divisible by both 3 and 5 is encountered. And this process continues until n is reached.
This can be solved by modifying the count variable approach. Here an additional direction variable will be used along with the flag variable of type int. The flag variable is incremented when a number divisible by 3 or 5 is encountered. When the flag variable becomes two, the direction is changed.
Pseudo-code:
initialize count3, count5 with 0
initialize a boolean variable direction
for i = 1 to n
increment count3 and count5
initialize a flag variable with 0
if count3 equals to 3
if direction is true
print "Fizz"
if direction is false
print "Buzz"
increment flag
set count3 to 0
if count5 equals to 5
if direction is true
print "Buzz"
if direction is false
print "Fizz"
increment flag
set count5 to 0
if flag is not equal to 0
print nextline
else
print i
if flag is equal to 2
Set direction to !direction
Output when n = 18:
1
2
Fizz
4
Buzz
Fizz
7
8
Fizz
Buzz
11
Fizz
13
14
FizzBuzz
16
17
Buzz
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FizzBuzz algorithm?
In the FizzBuzz program, the numbers from 1 to n are checked for divisibility by 3 and 5. If the number is divisible by 3: “Fizz” is printed, if divisible by 5: “Buzz” is printed, if divisible by 3 and 5 “FizzBuzz” is printed; else the number itself is printed.
How do you implement FizzBuzz?
FizzBuzz can be implemented using the modulo operator or the count variable approach.
Why is the modulo approach not preferred in the FizzBuzz program?
Modulo operations are time-consuming and are not suitable for large numbers.
Which concepts are tested in the FizzBuzz program?
For loop and conditional branching is tested using the FizzBuzz program along with the problem-solving ability.
Conclusion
This blog attempted to give a detailed explanation of the FizzBuzz Program. The various approaches have been explained with the help of pseudo-code and the implementations in Java, C++, and Python. Some variations of the FizzBuzz program have also been discussed along with the pseudo-code.
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