C++ Stack Exercises: Delete the middle element of a stack (using an array)

Last update on April 14 2025 12:44:44 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

9. Delete the Middle Element of an Array-Based Stack

Write a C++ program to delete the middle element of a stack (using an array).

When the number of elements is odd, the middle element is at position (size/2) + 1. When the number of elements is even, there are two middle elements at positions size/2 and (size/2) + 1.

Test Data:
Input some elements onto the stack:
Stack elements are: 5 2 4 7
Delete the middle element of the stack:
Stack elements are: 5 4 7

Sample Solution:

C++ Code:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

#define MAX_SIZE 15 // Maximum size of stack

class Stack {
private:
    int top; // Index of top element
    int arr[MAX_SIZE]; // Array to store elements

public:
    Stack() {
        top = -1; // Initialize top index to -1 (empty stack)
    }

    bool push(int x) {
        if (isFull()) {
            cout << "Stack overflow" << endl; // Display message if stack is full
            return false; // Return false to indicate failure in pushing element
        }
        // Increment top index and add element to array
        arr[++top] = x; 
        return true; // Return true to indicate successful element addition
    }

    int pop() {
        if (isEmpty()) {
            cout << "Stack underflow" << endl; // Display message if stack is empty
            return 0; // Return 0 to indicate failure in popping element
        }
        // Return top element and decrement top index
        return arr[top--]; 
    }

    int peek() {
        if (isEmpty()) {
            cout << "Stack is empty" << endl; // Display message if stack is empty
            return 0; // Return 0 to indicate failure in peeking element
        }
        // Return top element without modifying top index
        return arr[top]; 
    }

    bool isEmpty() {
        // Stack is empty if top index is -1
        return (top < 0); 
    }

    bool isFull() {
        // Stack is full if top index is equal to MAX_SIZE - 1
        return (top >= MAX_SIZE - 1); 
    }

    void display() {
        if (top < 0) {
            cout << "Stack is empty" << endl; // Display message if stack is empty
            return;
        }
        cout << "\nStack elements are: ";
        for (int i = top; i >= 0; i--)
            cout << arr[i] << " "; // Display elements of the stack
        cout << endl;
    }

    void delete_Middle_Element() {
        if (isEmpty()) {
            cout << "Stack is empty" << endl; // Display message if stack is empty
            return;
        }

        int size = top + 1;
        int mid = (size % 2 == 0) ? (size/2) : ((size/2) + 1);

        Stack temp;
        // On the temporary stack, push elements up to the middle
        for (int i = 0; i < mid - 1; i++) {    	
            temp.push(pop()); 
        }
        // Skip over the middle element
        pop(); 
        while (!temp.isEmpty()) {
            // Push elements back onto the original stack after popping them from the temporary stack
            push(temp.pop()); 
        }
    }
};

int main() {
    // Initialize the stack stk
    Stack stk; 
    cout << "Input some elements onto the stack:";
    stk.push(7);
    stk.push(4);
    stk.push(2);
    stk.push(5);
    stk.display(); 
    cout << "Delete the middle element of the stack:";
    stk.delete_Middle_Element(); 
    stk.display(); 
    cout << "\nInput two more elements";
    stk.push(-1);
    stk.push(-2);
    stk.display();
    cout << "Delete the middle element of the stack:";
    stk.delete_Middle_Element(); 
    stk.display(); 
    cout << endl;
    return 0;
}

Sample Output:

Input some elements onto the stack:
Stack elements are: 5 2 4 7 
Delete the middle element of the stack:
Stack elements are: 5 4 7 

Input two more elements
Stack elements are: -2 -1 5 4 7 
Delete the middle element of the stack:
Stack elements are: -2 -1 4 7 

Flowchart:

For more Practice: Solve these Related Problems:

• Write a C++ program to remove the middle element from an array-based stack and adjust the remaining elements.
• Develop a C++ program to delete the central element of an array-based stack while preserving the order of other elements.
• Design a C++ program that finds and deletes the middle element from a stack implemented with an array.
• Implement a C++ program to remove the median element of an array-based stack and display the updated stack.

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Previous C++ Exercise: Find the middle element of a stack (using an array).
Next C++ Exercise: Find and remove the largest element in a stack.