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Find first and last positions of an element in a sorted array

Last Updated : 04 Mar, 2025
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Given a sorted array arr[] with possibly some duplicates, the task is to find the first and last occurrences of an element x in the given array.

Note: If the number x is not found in the array then return both the indices as -1.

Examples: 

Input : arr[] = [1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125], x = 5
Output : 2 5
Explanation: First occurrence of 5 is at index 2 and last occurrence of 5 is at index 5

Input : arr[] = [1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 7, 123, 125 ], x = 7
Output : 6 6
Explanation: First and last occurrence of 7 is at index 6

Input: arr[] = [1, 2, 3], x = 4
Output: -1 -1
Explanation: No occurrence of 4 in the array, so, output is [-1, -1]

[Naive Approach] – Using Iteration – O(n) Time and O(1) Space

The idea is to simply iterate on the elements of the given array and keep track of first and last occurrence of the value x.

C++
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
vector<int> find(vector<int> arr, int x) {
    int n = arr.size();

    // Initialize first and last index
    int first = -1, last = -1;

    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {

        // If x is different, continue
        if (x != arr[i])
            continue;
        
        // If first occurrence found
        if (first == -1)
            first = i;
        
        // Update last occurrence
        last = i;
    }
    vector<int> res = {first, last};
    return res;
}

int main() {
    vector<int> arr = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125};
    int x = 5;
    vector<int> res = find(arr, x);
    cout << res[0] << " " << res[1];
    return 0;
}
Java
// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
import java.util.*;

class GfG {

    // Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
    static ArrayList<Integer> find(int[] arr, int x) {
        int n = arr.length;
        
        // Initialize first and last index
        int first = -1, last = -1;
        
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            
            // If x is different, continue
            if (x != arr[i])
                continue;
            
            // If first occurrence found
            if (first == -1)
                first = i;
            
            // Update last occurrence
            last = i;
        }
        ArrayList<Integer> res = new ArrayList<>();
        res.add(first);
        res.add(last);
        return res;
    }
    
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] arr = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125};
        int x = 5;
        ArrayList<Integer> res = find(arr, x);
        System.out.println(res.get(0) + " " + res.get(1));
    }
}
Python
# Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
def find(arr, x):
    n = len(arr)
    
    # Initialize first and last index
    first = -1
    last = -1
    
    for i in range(n):
        
        # If x is different, continue
        if x != arr[i]:
            continue
        
        # If first occurrence found
        if first == -1:
            first = i
        
        # Update last occurrence
        last = i
    res = [first, last]
    return res

if __name__ == "__main__":
    arr = [1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125]
    x = 5
    res = find(arr, x)
    print(res[0], res[1])
C#
// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class GfG {

    // Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
    static List<int> find(int[] arr, int x) {
        int n = arr.Length;
        
        // Initialize first and last index
        int first = -1, last = -1;
        
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            
            // If x is different, continue
            if (x != arr[i])
                continue;
            
            // If first occurrence found
            if (first == -1)
                first = i;
            
            // Update last occurrence
            last = i;
        }
        List<int> res = new List<int> { first, last };
        return res;
    }
    
    static void Main() {
        int[] arr = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125};
        int x = 5;
        List<int> res = find(arr, x);
        Console.WriteLine(res[0] + " " + res[1]);
    }
}
JavaScript
// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
function find(arr, x) {
    let n = arr.length;
    
    // Initialize first and last index
    let first = -1, last = -1;
    
    for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        
        // If x is different, continue
        if (x !== arr[i])
            continue;
        
        // If first occurrence found
        if (first === -1)
            first = i;
        
        // Update last occurrence
        last = i;
    }
    let res = [first, last];
    return res;
}

let arr = [1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125];
let x = 5;
let res = find(arr, x);
console.log(res[0] + " " + res[1]);

Output
2 5

[Expected Approach] – Using Binary Search – O(log n) Time and O(1) Space

The idea is to find the first and last occurrence of a given number separately using binary search.

Follow the below given approach:

1. For the first occurrence of a number 

  • If (high >= low): Calculate  mid = low + (high – low)/2;
  • If ((mid == 0 || x > arr[mid-1]) && arr[mid] == x): return mid
  • Else if (x > arr[mid]): return first(arr, (mid + 1), high, x, n);
  • Else: return first(arr, low, (mid -1), x, n);
  • Otherwise: return -1;

2. For the last occurrence of a number 

  • if (high >= low): calculate mid = low + (high – low)/2;
  • if( ( mid == n-1 || x < arr[mid+1]) && arr[mid] == x ): return mid;
  • else if(x < arr[mid]): return last(arr, low, (mid -1), x, n);
  • else: return last(arr, (mid + 1), high, x, n);
  • otherwise: return -1;
C++
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

//Function for finding last occurrence of x
int findLast(vector<int> arr, int x) {
    int n = arr.size();

    // Initialize low and high index
    // to find the last occurrence
    int low = 0, high = n - 1;

    // Initialize last occurrence
    int last = -1;

    // Find last occurrence of x
    while(low <= high) {

        // Find the mid index
        int mid = (low + high) / 2;

        // If x is equal to arr[mid]
        if (x == arr[mid]) {
            last = mid;
            low = mid + 1;
        }

        // If x is less than arr[mid], 
        // then search in the left subarray
        else if (x < arr[mid])
            high = mid - 1;

        // If x is greater than arr[mid], 
        // then search in the right subarray
        else
            low = mid + 1;
    }

    return last;
}

// Function for finding first occurrence of x
int findFirst(vector<int> arr, int x) {
    int n = arr.size();

    // Initialize low and high index
    // to find the first occurrence
    int low = 0, high = n - 1;

    // Initialize first occurrence
    int first = -1;

    // Find first occurrence of x
    while(low <= high) {

        // Find the mid index
        int mid = (low + high) / 2;

        // If x is equal to arr[mid]
        if (x == arr[mid]) {
            first = mid;
            high = mid - 1;
        }

        // If x is less than arr[mid], 
        // then search in the left subarray
        else if (x < arr[mid])
            high = mid - 1;

        // If x is greater than arr[mid], 
        // then search in the right subarray
        else
            low = mid + 1;
    }

    return first;
}

// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
vector<int> find(vector<int> arr, int x) {
    int n = arr.size();

    // Find first and last index
    int first = findFirst(arr, x);
    int last = findLast(arr, x);

    vector<int> res = {first, last};
    return res;
}

int main() {
    vector<int> arr = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125};
    int x = 5;
    vector<int> res = find(arr, x);
    cout << res[0] << " " << res[1];
    return 0;
}
Java
// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
import java.util.*;

class GfG {

    // Function for finding last occurrence of x
    static int findLast(int[] arr, int x) {
        int n = arr.length;
        
        // Initialize low and high index
        // to find the last occurrence
        int low = 0, high = n - 1;
        
        // Initialize last occurrence
        int last = -1;
        
        // Find last occurrence of x
        while(low <= high) {
            
            // Find the mid index
            int mid = (low + high) / 2;
            
            // If x is equal to arr[mid]
            if(x == arr[mid]) {
                last = mid;
                low = mid + 1;
            }
            
            // If x is less than arr[mid], 
            // then search in the left subarray
            else if(x < arr[mid])
                high = mid - 1;
            
            // If x is greater than arr[mid], 
            // then search in the right subarray
            else
                low = mid + 1;
        }
        
        return last;
    }
    
    // Function for finding first occurrence of x
    static int findFirst(int[] arr, int x) {
        int n = arr.length;
        
        // Initialize low and high index
        // to find the first occurrence
        int low = 0, high = n - 1;
        
        // Initialize first occurrence
        int first = -1;
        
        // Find first occurrence of x
        while(low <= high) {
            
            // Find the mid index
            int mid = (low + high) / 2;
            
            // If x is equal to arr[mid]
            if(x == arr[mid]) {
                first = mid;
                high = mid - 1;
            }
            
            // If x is less than arr[mid], 
            // then search in the left subarray
            else if(x < arr[mid])
                high = mid - 1;
            
            // If x is greater than arr[mid], 
            // then search in the right subarray
            else
                low = mid + 1;
        }
        
        return first;
    }
    
    // Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
    static ArrayList<Integer> find(int[] arr, int x) {
        int n = arr.length;
        
        // Find first and last index
        int first = findFirst(arr, x);
        int last = findLast(arr, x);
        
        ArrayList<Integer> res = new ArrayList<>();
        res.add(first);
        res.add(last);
        return res;
    }
    
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] arr = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125};
        int x = 5;
        ArrayList<Integer> res = find(arr, x);
        System.out.println(res.get(0) + " " + res.get(1));
    }
}
Python
# Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
def findLast(arr, x):
    n = len(arr)
    
    # Initialize low and high index
    # to find the last occurrence
    low = 0
    high = n - 1
    
    # Initialize last occurrence
    last = -1
    
    # Find last occurrence of x
    while low <= high:
        
        # Find the mid index
        mid = (low + high) // 2
        
        # If x is equal to arr[mid]
        if x == arr[mid]:
            last = mid
            low = mid + 1
        # If x is less than arr[mid], 
        # then search in the left subarray
        elif x < arr[mid]:
            high = mid - 1
        # If x is greater than arr[mid], 
        # then search in the right subarray
        else:
            low = mid + 1
    return last

# Function for finding first occurrence of x
def findFirst(arr, x):
    n = len(arr)
    
    # Initialize low and high index
    # to find the first occurrence
    low = 0
    high = n - 1
    
    # Initialize first occurrence
    first = -1
    
    # Find first occurrence of x
    while low <= high:
        
        # Find the mid index
        mid = (low + high) // 2
        
        # If x is equal to arr[mid]
        if x == arr[mid]:
            first = mid
            high = mid - 1
        # If x is less than arr[mid], 
        # then search in the left subarray
        elif x < arr[mid]:
            high = mid - 1
        # If x is greater than arr[mid], 
        # then search in the right subarray
        else:
            low = mid + 1
    return first

# Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
def find(arr, x):
    n = len(arr)
    
    # Find first and last index
    first = findFirst(arr, x)
    last = findLast(arr, x)
    
    res = [first, last]
    return res

if __name__ == "__main__":
    arr = [1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125]
    x = 5
    res = find(arr, x)
    print(res[0], res[1])
C#
// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class GfG {

    // Function for finding last occurrence of x
    static int findLast(int[] arr, int x) {
        int n = arr.Length;
        
        // Initialize low and high index
        // to find the last occurrence
        int low = 0, high = n - 1;
        
        // Initialize last occurrence
        int last = -1;
        
        // Find last occurrence of x
        while(low <= high) {
            // Find the mid index
            int mid = (low + high) / 2;
            
            // If x is equal to arr[mid]
            if(x == arr[mid]) {
                last = mid;
                low = mid + 1;
            }
            // If x is less than arr[mid], 
            // then search in the left subarray
            else if(x < arr[mid])
                high = mid - 1;
            // If x is greater than arr[mid], 
            // then search in the right subarray
            else
                low = mid + 1;
        }
        return last;
    }
    
    // Function for finding first occurrence of x
    static int findFirst(int[] arr, int x) {
        int n = arr.Length;
        
        // Initialize low and high index
        // to find the first occurrence
        int low = 0, high = n - 1;
        
        // Initialize first occurrence
        int first = -1;
        
        // Find first occurrence of x
        while(low <= high) {
            // Find the mid index
            int mid = (low + high) / 2;
            
            // If x is equal to arr[mid]
            if(x == arr[mid]) {
                first = mid;
                high = mid - 1;
            }
            // If x is less than arr[mid], 
            // then search in the left subarray
            else if(x < arr[mid])
                high = mid - 1;
            // If x is greater than arr[mid], 
            // then search in the right subarray
            else
                low = mid + 1;
        }
        return first;
    }
    
    // Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
    static List<int> find(int[] arr, int x) {
        int n = arr.Length;
        
        // Find first and last index
        int first = findFirst(arr, x);
        int last = findLast(arr, x);
        
        List<int> res = new List<int> { first, last };
        return res;
    }
    
    static void Main() {
        int[] arr = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125};
        int x = 5;
        List<int> res = find(arr, x);
        Console.WriteLine(res[0] + " " + res[1]);
    }
}
JavaScript
// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
function findFirst(arr, x) {
    let n = arr.length;
    
    // Initialize low and high index
    let low = 0, high = n - 1;
    
    // Initialize first occurrence
    let first = -1;
    
    // Find first occurrence of x
    while (low <= high) {
        
        // Find the mid index
        let mid = Math.floor((low + high) / 2);
        
        // If x is equal to arr[mid]
        if (x === arr[mid]) {
            first = mid;
            high = mid - 1;
        }
        
        // If x is less than arr[mid], 
        // then search in the left subarray
        else if (x < arr[mid])
            high = mid - 1;
        
        // If x is greater than arr[mid], 
        // then search in the right subarray
        else
            low = mid + 1;
    }
    return first;
}
 
function findLast(arr, x) {
    let n = arr.length;
    
    // Initialize low and high index
    let low = 0, high = n - 1;
    
    // Initialize last occurrence
    let last = -1;
    
    // Find last occurrence of x
    while (low <= high) {
        
        // Find the mid index
        let mid = Math.floor((low + high) / 2);
        
        // If x is equal to arr[mid]
        if (x === arr[mid]) {
            last = mid;
            low = mid + 1;
        }
        
        // If x is less than arr[mid], 
        // then search in the left subarray
        else if (x < arr[mid])
            high = mid - 1;
        
        // If x is greater than arr[mid], 
        // then search in the right subarray
        else
            low = mid + 1;
    }
    return last;
}
 
function find(arr, x) {
    let n = arr.length;
    
    // Find first and last index
    let first = findFirst(arr, x);
    let last = findLast(arr, x);
    
    let res = [first, last];
    return res;
}
 
let arr = [1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125];
let x = 5;
let res = find(arr, x);
console.log(res[0] + " " + res[1]);

Output
2 5

[Alternate Approach – 1] – Using Binary Search – O(log n) Time and O(1) Space

In the above given approach, we are creating two functions to find the first and last occurrence of the number separately. But instead of doing so, we can use a Boolean findFirst, which will be “true”, if we are searching for the first index and false otherwise. If arr[mid] == x, and findFirst is “true” set high = mid – 1, else set low = mid + 1. Everything else will work similar to above approach.     

C++
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

int search(vector<int> &arr, int x, bool findStart) {
    int n = arr.size();

    // Initialize low and high index
    int low = 0, high = n - 1;

    // Initialize the index
    int ind = -1;

    // Find occurrence of x
    while(low <= high) {

        // Find the mid index
        int mid = (low + high) / 2;

        // If x is equal to arr[mid]
        if (x == arr[mid]) {
            ind = mid;

            if(findStart == true)
                high = mid - 1;
            else
                low = mid + 1;
        }

        // If x is less than arr[mid], 
        // then search in the left subarray
        else if (x < arr[mid])
            high = mid - 1;

        // If x is greater than arr[mid], 
        // then search in the right subarray
        else
            low = mid + 1;
    }

    return ind;
}

// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
vector<int> find(vector<int> &arr, int x) {

    // return index of first occurrence
    int first = search(arr, x, true);

    // return index of last occurrence
    int last = search(arr, x, false);
    vector<int> res = {first, last};
    return res;
}

int main() {
    vector<int> arr = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125};
    int x = 5;
    vector<int> res = find(arr, x);
    cout << res[0] << " " << res[1];
    return 0;
}
Java
// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
import java.util.*;

class GfG {

    // Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
    static ArrayList<Integer> find(int[] arr, int x) {
        int n = arr.length;
        
        // return index of first occurrence
        int first = search(arr, x, true);
        
        // return index of last occurrence
        int last = search(arr, x, false);
        
        ArrayList<Integer> res = new ArrayList<>();
        res.add(first);
        res.add(last);
        return res;
    }
    
    static int search(int[] arr, int x, boolean findStart) {
        int n = arr.length;
        
        // Initialize low and high index
        int low = 0, high = n - 1;
        
        // Initialize the index
        int ind = -1;
        
        // Find occurrence of x
        while(low <= high) {
            
            // Find the mid index
            int mid = (low + high) / 2;
            
            // If x is equal to arr[mid]
            if(x == arr[mid]) {
                ind = mid;
                if(findStart)
                    high = mid - 1;
                else
                    low = mid + 1;
            }
            
            // If x is less than arr[mid],
            // then search in the left subarray
            else if(x < arr[mid])
                high = mid - 1;
            
            // If x is greater than arr[mid],
            // then search in the right subarray
            else
                low = mid + 1;
        }
        
        return ind;
    }
    
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] arr = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125};
        int x = 5;
        ArrayList<Integer> res = find(arr, x);
        System.out.println(res.get(0) + " " + res.get(1));
    }
}
Python
# Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
def search(arr, x, findStart):
    n = len(arr)
    
    # Initialize low and high index
    low = 0
    high = n - 1
    
    # Initialize the index
    ind = -1
    
    # Find occurrence of x
    while low <= high:
        
        # Find the mid index
        mid = (low + high) // 2
        
        # If x is equal to arr[mid]
        if x == arr[mid]:
            ind = mid
            if findStart:
                high = mid - 1
            else:
                low = mid + 1
        # If x is less than arr[mid],
        # then search in the left subarray
        elif x < arr[mid]:
            high = mid - 1
        # If x is greater than arr[mid],
        # then search in the right subarray
        else:
            low = mid + 1
    return ind

# Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
def find(arr, x):
    n = len(arr)
    
    # return index of first occurrence
    first = search(arr, x, True)
    
    # return index of last occurrence
    last = search(arr, x, False)
    
    res = [first, last]
    return res

if __name__ == "__main__":
    arr = [1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125]
    x = 5
    res = find(arr, x)
    print(res[0], res[1])
C#
// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class GfG {

    // Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
    static List<int> find(int[] arr, int x) {
        int n = arr.Length;
        
        // return index of first occurrence
        int first = search(arr, x, true);
        
        // return index of last occurrence
        int last = search(arr, x, false);
        
        List<int> res = new List<int> { first, last };
        return res;
    }
    
    static int search(int[] arr, int x, bool findStart) {
        int n = arr.Length;
        
        // Initialize low and high index
        int low = 0, high = n - 1;
        
        // Initialize the index
        int ind = -1;
        
        // Find occurrence of x
        while(low <= high) {
            
            // Find the mid index
            int mid = (low + high) / 2;
            
            // If x is equal to arr[mid]
            if(x == arr[mid]) {
                ind = mid;
                if(findStart)
                    high = mid - 1;
                else
                    low = mid + 1;
            }
            // If x is less than arr[mid],
            // then search in the left subarray
            else if(x < arr[mid])
                high = mid - 1;
            // If x is greater than arr[mid],
            // then search in the right subarray
            else
                low = mid + 1;
        }
        
        return ind;
    }
    
    static void Main() {
        int[] arr = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125};
        int x = 5;
        List<int> res = find(arr, x);
        Console.WriteLine(res[0] + " " + res[1]);
    }
}
JavaScript
// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
function search(arr, x, findStart) {
    
    let n = arr.length;
    
    // Initialize low and high index
    let low = 0, high = n - 1;
    
    // Initialize the index
    let ind = -1;
    
    // Find occurrence of x
    while (low <= high) {
        
        // Find the mid index
        let mid = Math.floor((low + high) / 2);
        
        // If x is equal to arr[mid]
        if (x === arr[mid]) {
            ind = mid;
            if (findStart)
                high = mid - 1;
            else
                low = mid + 1;
        }
        // If x is less than arr[mid],
        // then search in the left subarray
        else if (x < arr[mid])
            high = mid - 1;
        // If x is greater than arr[mid],
        // then search in the right subarray
        else
            low = mid + 1;
    }
    
    return ind;
}
 
function find(arr, x) {
    let n = arr.length;
    
    // return index of first occurrence
    let first = search(arr, x, true);
    
    // return index of last occurrence
    let last = search(arr, x, false);
    
    let res = [first, last];
    return res;
}
 
let arr = [1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125];
let x = 5;
let res = find(arr, x);
console.log(res[0] + " " + res[1]);

Output
2 5

[Alternate Approach – 2] – Using Inbuilt Functions – O(log n) Time and O(1) Space

The idea is to use inbuilt functions to find the first and last occurrence of the number in the array arr[]. Like in C++ we can use lower and upper bound to find the last occurrence of the number.

C++
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
vector<int> find(vector<int> arr, int x) {
    int n = arr.size();

    // return index of first number
    // greater than or equal to x
    int first = lower_bound(arr.begin(), arr.end(), x) - arr.begin();

    // return index of first number
    // greater than x
    int last = upper_bound(arr.begin(), arr.end(), x) - arr.begin() - 1;

    // If x is not present
    if (first == n || arr[first] != x) {
        first = -1;
        last = -1;
    }
    vector<int> res = {first, last};
    return res;
}

int main() {
    vector<int> arr = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125};
    int x = 5;
    vector<int> res = find(arr, x);
    cout << res[0] << " " << res[1];
    return 0;
}
Java
// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
import java.util.*;

class GfG {

    // Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
    static ArrayList<Integer> find(int[] arr, int x) {
        ArrayList<Integer> list = new ArrayList<>();
        for (int val : arr) {
            list.add(val);
        }
        
        // return index of first number
        // greater than or equal to x
        int first = list.indexOf(x);
        
        // return index of first number
        // greater than x
        int last = list.lastIndexOf(x);
        
        // If x is not present
        if (first == -1) {
            last = -1;
        }
        ArrayList<Integer> res = new ArrayList<>();
        res.add(first);
        res.add(last);
        return res;
    }
    
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] arr = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125};
        int x = 5;
        ArrayList<Integer> res = find(arr, x);
        System.out.println(res.get(0) + " " + res.get(1));
    }
}
Python
# Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
import bisect

def find(arr, x):
    n = len(arr)
    
    # return index of first number
    # greater than or equal to x
    first = bisect.bisect_left(arr, x)
    
    # return index of first number
    # greater than x
    last = bisect.bisect_right(arr, x) - 1
    
    # If x is not present
    if first == n or arr[first] != x:
        first = -1
        last = -1
        
    res = [first, last]
    return res

if __name__ == "__main__":
    arr = [1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125]
    x = 5
    res = find(arr, x)
    print(res[0], res[1])
C#
// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class GfG {

    // Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
    static List<int> find(int[] arr, int x) {
        List<int> list = new List<int>(arr);
        
        // return index of first number
        // greater than or equal to x
        int first = list.IndexOf(x);
        
        // return index of first number
        // greater than x
        int last = list.LastIndexOf(x);
        
        // If x is not present
        if (first == -1) {
            last = -1;
        }
        List<int> res = new List<int> { first, last };
        return res;
    }
    
    static void Main() {
        int[] arr = {1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125};
        int x = 5;
        List<int> res = find(arr, x);
        Console.WriteLine(res[0] + " " + res[1]);
    }
}
JavaScript
// Function for finding first and last occurrence of x
function find(arr, x) {
    let n = arr.length;
    
    // return index of first number
    // greater than or equal to x
    let first = arr.findIndex(e => e >= x);
    
    // return index of first number
    // greater than x
    let last = arr.lastIndexOf(x);
    
    // If x is not present
    if (first === -1 || arr[first] !== x) {
        first = -1;
        last = -1;
    }
    let res = [first, last];
    return res;
}
 
let arr = [1, 3, 5, 5, 5, 5, 67, 123, 125];
let x = 5;
let res = find(arr, x);
console.log(res[0] + " " + res[1]);

Output
2 5

Extended Problem : Count number of occurrences in a sorted array




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