How do you envision a class that implements matrix rotation, specifically its inputs and outputs?

Question Analysis

The question asks you to conceptualize a class that can perform matrix rotation. Matrix rotation is a common operation where a matrix is rotated by 90 degrees in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The focus here is on designing a class, which means considering how the class would be structured in terms of inputs (what information and parameters it requires) and outputs (what it returns or modifies). You should also think about the methods this class would have and how they interact with the inputs to produce the desired outputs.

Answer

To design a class that implements matrix rotation, you need to define the structure and functionality it should have. Below are the key components:

Class Name: MatrixRotator

Attributes:

• matrix: A 2D list or array that represents the matrix to be rotated.

Methods:

1. Constructor:

   • Input:
     • matrix: A 2D list or array, representing the initial matrix.
   • Functionality: Initializes the matrix attribute with the provided matrix.

2. rotate_clockwise():

   • Input: None
   • Output: A new 2D list or array representing the matrix rotated 90 degrees clockwise.
   • Functionality:
     • Transpose the matrix (swap rows with columns).
     • Reverse each row of the transposed matrix.

3. rotate_counterclockwise():

   • Input: None
   • Output: A new 2D list or array representing the matrix rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise.
   • Functionality:
     • Transpose the matrix.
     • Reverse each column of the transposed matrix.

Example Usage:

# Initialize the matrix
matrix = [
    [1, 2, 3],
    [4, 5, 6],
    [7, 8, 9]
]

# Create an instance of MatrixRotator
rotator = MatrixRotator(matrix)

# Rotate clockwise
rotated_matrix_clockwise = rotator.rotate_clockwise()

# Rotate counterclockwise
rotated_matrix_counterclockwise = rotator.rotate_counterclockwise()

Considerations:

• Ensure the matrix is square (rows equal columns) for traditional 90-degree rotations; otherwise, handle non-square matrices if required.
• Decide if the rotation should be done in place or if a new matrix should be returned.
• Consider edge cases, such as an empty matrix or a single-element matrix.

This design provides a clear structure for how a MatrixRotator class would manage matrix rotation, outlining how inputs are processed to produce the desired outputs.