Coding Interview

Program Creek

May 1st, 2015

Contents

1 Rotate Array in Java 9

2 Evaluate Reverse Polish Notation 11

3 Isomorphic Strings 14

4 Word Ladder 15

5 Median of Two Sorted Arrays Java 18

6 Regular Expression Matching in Java 20

7 Merge Intervals 22

8 Insert Interval 24

9 Two Sum 26

10 Two Sum II Input array is sorted 27

11 Two Sum III Data structure design 28

12 3Sum 29

13 4Sum 31

14 3Sum Closest 33

15 String to Integer (atoi) 34

16 Merge Sorted Array 35

17 Valid Parentheses 36

18 Implement strStr() 37

19 Minimum Size Subarray Sum 39

20 Search Insert Position 41

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 Contents

21 Longest Consecutive Sequence 42

22 Valid Palindrome 44

23 ZigZag Conversion 47

24 Add Binary 48

25 Length of Last Word 49

26 Triangle 50

27 Contains Duplicate 52

28 Contains Duplicate II 52

29 Remove Duplicates from Sorted Array 53

30 Remove Duplicates from Sorted Array II 55

31 Longest Substring Without Repeating Characters 58

32 Longest Substring Which Contains 2 Unique Characters 60

33 Minimum Window Substring 63

34 Reverse Words in a String 64

35 Find Minimum in Rotated Sorted Array 65

36 Find Minimum in Rotated Sorted Array II 66

37 Find Peak Element 68

38 Min Stack 68

39 Majority Element 70

40 Remove Element 71

41 Largest Rectangle in Histogram 71

42 Longest Common Prefix 73

43 Largest Number 74

44 Simplify Path 75

45 Compare Version Numbers 76

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Contents

46 Gas Station 77

47 Pascals Triangle 79

48 Pascals Triangle II 80

49 Container With Most Water 81

50 Count and Say 82

51 Search for a Range 83

52 Kth Largest Element in an Array 84

53 Anagrams 86

54 First Missing Positive 87

55 Shortest Palindrome 88

56 Set Matrix Zeroes 89

57 Spiral Matrix 91

58 Spiral Matrix II 94

59 Search a 2D Matrix 95

60 Rotate Image 96

61 Valid Sudoku 98

62 Minimum Path Sum 99

63 Unique Paths 101

64 Unique Paths II 102

65 Number of Islands 104

66 Surrounded Regions 105

67 Maximal Rectangle 109

68 Add Two Numbers 110

69 Reorder List 114

70 Linked List Cycle 118

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 Contents

71 Copy List with Random Pointer 119

72 Merge Two Sorted Lists 121

73 Merge k Sorted Lists 123

74 Remove Duplicates from Sorted List 124

75 Partition List 126

76 LRU Cache 128

77 Intersection of Two Linked Lists 131

78 Remove Linked List Elements 132

79 Swap Nodes in Pairs 133

80 Reverse Linked List 134

81 Remove Nth Node From End of List 135

82 Java PriorityQueue Class Example 137

83 Solution for Binary Tree Preorder Traversal in Java 139

84 Solution of Binary Tree Inorder Traversal in Java 140

85 Solution of Iterative Binary Tree Postorder Traversal in Java 141

86 Binary Tree Level Order Traversal 143

87 Binary Tree Level Order Traversal II 144

88 Validate Binary Search Tree 145

89 Flatten Binary Tree to Linked List 147

90 Path Sum 148

91 Path Sum II 150

92 Construct Binary Tree from Inorder and Postorder Traversal 151

93 Convert Sorted Array to Binary Search Tree 153

94 Convert Sorted List to Binary Search Tree 154

95 Minimum Depth of Binary Tree 156

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Contents

96 Binary Tree Maximum Path Sum 157

97 Balanced Binary Tree 158

98 Symmetric Tree 159

99 Binary Search Tree Iterator 160

100 Binary Tree Right Side View 162

101 Implement Trie (Prefix Tree) 163

102 Add and Search Word Data structure design 165

103 Merge K Sorted Arrays in Java 168

104 Populating Next Right Pointers in Each Node 169

105 Unique Binary Search Trees 171

106 Unique Binary Search Trees II 173

107 Sum Root to Leaf Numbers 174

108 Clone Graph Java 176

109 Course Schedule 178

110 How Developers Sort in Java? 181

111 Solution Merge Sort LinkedList in Java 182

112 Quicksort Array in Java 186

113 Solution Sort a linked list using insertion sort in Java 187

114 Maximum Gap 190

115 Edit Distance in Java 191

116 Longest Palindromic Substring 194

117 Word Break 198

118 Word Break II 200

119 Maximum Subarray 203

120 Maximum Product Subarray 204

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 Contents

121 Palindrome Partitioning 206

122 Palindrome Partitioning II 208

123 Candy 209

124 Jump Game 210

125 Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock 211

126 Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock II 212

127 Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock III 213

128 Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock IV 214

129 Dungeon Game 216

130 House Robber 217

131 House Robber II 218

132 Distinct Subsequences Total 220

133 Single Number 222

134 Single Number II 222

135 Twitter Codility Problem Max Binary Gap 223

136 Number of 1 Bits 224

137 Reverse Bits 224

138 Repeated DNA Sequences 225

139 Bitwise AND of Numbers Range 227

140 Permutations 227

141 Permutations II 229

142 Permutation Sequence 231

143 Generate Parentheses 233

144 Combination Sum 235

145 Combination Sum II 236

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Contents

146 Combination Sum III 237

147 Combinations 238

148 Letter Combinations of a Phone Number 240

149 Reverse Integer 242

150 Palindrome Number 243

151 Pow(x, n) 244

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1 Rotate Array in Java

You may have been using Java for a while. Do you think a simple Java array question
can be a challenge? Lets use the following problem to test.
Problem: Rotate an array of n elements to the right by k steps. For example, with n
= 7 and k = 3, the array [1,2,3,4,5,6,7] is rotated to [5,6,7,1,2,3,4]. How many different
ways do you know to solve this problem?

1.1 Solution 1 - Intermediate Array

In a straightforward way, we can create a new array and then copy elements to the
new array. Then change the original array by using System.arraycopy().
public void rotate(int[] nums, int k) {
if(k > nums.length)
k=k%nums.length;

int[] result = new int[nums.length];

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

result[i] = nums[nums.length-k+i];
}

int j=0;
for(int i=k; i<nums.length; i++){
result[i] = nums[j];
j++;
}

System.arraycopy( result, 0, nums, 0, nums.length );

}

Space is O(n) and time is O(n). You can check out the difference between Sys-
tem.arraycopy() and Arrays.copyOf().

1.2 Solution 2 - Bubble Rotate

Can we do this in O(1) space?

This solution is like a bubble sort.
public static void rotate(int[] arr, int order) {
if (arr == null || order < 0) {

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1 Rotate Array in Java

throw new IllegalArgumentException("Illegal argument!");

}

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

for (int j = arr.length - 1; j > 0; j--) {
int temp = arr[j];
arr[j] = arr[j - 1];
arr[j - 1] = temp;
}
}
}

However, the time is O(n*k).

Here is an example (length=7, order=3):
i=0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0 1 2 3 4 6 5
...
6 0 1 2 3 4 5
i=1
6 0 1 2 3 5 4
...
5 6 0 1 2 3 4
i=2
5 6 0 1 2 4 3
...
4 5 6 0 1 2 3

1.3 Solution 3 - Reversal

Can we do this in O(1) space and in O(n) time? The following solution does.
Assuming we are given 1,2,3,4,5,6 and order 2. The basic idea is:
1. Divide the array two parts: 1,2,3,4 and 5, 6
2. Rotate first part: 4,3,2,1,5,6
3. Rotate second part: 4,3,2,1,6,5
4. Rotate the whole array: 5,6,1,2,3,4

public static void rotate(int[] arr, int order) {

order = order % arr.length;

if (arr == null || order < 0) {

throw new IllegalArgumentException("Illegal argument!");
}

//length of first part

int a = arr.length - order;

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 reverse(arr, 0, a-1);
reverse(arr, a, arr.length-1);
reverse(arr, 0, arr.length-1);

public static void reverse(int[] arr, int left, int right){

if(arr == null || arr.length == 1)
return;

while(left < right){

int temp = arr[left];
arr[left] = arr[right];
arr[right] = temp;
left++;
right--;
}
}

2 Evaluate Reverse Polish Notation

Evaluate the value of an arithmetic expression in Reverse Polish Notation. Valid

operators are +, -, *, /. Each operand may be an integer or another expression. For
example:
["2", "1", "+", "3", "*"] -> ((2 + 1) * 3) -> 9
["4", "13", "5", "/", "+"] -> (4 + (13 / 5)) -> 6

2.1 Naive Approach

This problem can be solved by using a stack. We can loop through each element in the
given array. When it is a number, push it to the stack. When it is an operator, pop two
numbers from the stack, do the calculation, and push back the result.

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2 Evaluate Reverse Polish Notation

The following is the code. However, this code contains compilation errors in leet-
code. Why?
public class Test {

public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {

String[] tokens = new String[] { "2", "1", "+", "3", "*" };
System.out.println(evalRPN(tokens));
}

public static int evalRPN(String[] tokens) {

int returnValue = 0;
String operators = "+-*/";

Stack<String> stack = new Stack<String>();

for (String t : tokens) {

if (!operators.contains(t)) { //push to stack if it is a number
stack.push(t);
} else {//pop numbers from stack if it is an operator
int a = Integer.valueOf(stack.pop());
int b = Integer.valueOf(stack.pop());
switch (t) {
case "+":
stack.push(String.valueOf(a + b));
break;
case "-":
stack.push(String.valueOf(b - a));
break;
case "*":
stack.push(String.valueOf(a * b));
break;

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 2 Evaluate Reverse Polish Notation

case "/":
stack.push(String.valueOf(b / a));
break;
}
}
}

returnValue = Integer.valueOf(stack.pop());

return returnValue;
}
}

The problem is that switch string statement is only available from JDK 1.7. Leetcode
apparently use a JDK version below 1.7.

2.2 Accepted Solution

If you want to use switch statement, you can convert the above by using the following
code which use the index of a string "+-*/".
public class Solution {
public int evalRPN(String[] tokens) {

int returnValue = 0;

String operators = "+-*/";

Stack<String> stack = new Stack<String>();

for(String t : tokens){
if(!operators.contains(t)){
stack.push(t);
}else{
int a = Integer.valueOf(stack.pop());
int b = Integer.valueOf(stack.pop());
int index = operators.indexOf(t);
switch(index){
case 0:
stack.push(String.valueOf(a+b));
break;
case 1:
stack.push(String.valueOf(b-a));
break;
case 2:
stack.push(String.valueOf(a*b));
break;
case 3:
stack.push(String.valueOf(b/a));

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 break;
}
}
}

returnValue = Integer.valueOf(stack.pop());

return returnValue;

}
}

3 Isomorphic Strings

Given two strings s and t, determine if they are isomorphic. Two strings are isomor-
phic if the characters in s can be replaced to get t.
For example,"egg" and "add" are isomorphic, "foo" and "bar" are not.
3.1 Analysis

We need to define a method which accepts a map & a value, and returns the values
key in the map.

3.2 Java Solution

public boolean isIsomorphic(String s, String t) {

if(s==null || t==null)
return false;

if(s.length() != t.length())
return false;

if(s.length()==0 && t.length()==0)

return true;

HashMap<Character, Character> map = new HashMap<Character,Character>();

for(int i=0; i<s.length(); i++){
char c1 = s.charAt(i);
char c2 = t.charAt(i);

Character c = getKey(map, c2);

if(c != null && c!=c1){
return false;

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 }else if(map.containsKey(c1)){
if(c2 != map.get(c1))
return false;
}else{
map.put(c1,c2);
}
}

return true;
}

// a method for getting key of a target value

public Character getKey(HashMap<Character,Character> map, Character target){
for (Map.Entry<Character,Character> entry : map.entrySet()) {
if (entry.getValue().equals(target)) {
return entry.getKey();
}
}

return null;
}

4 Word Ladder

Given two words (start and end), and a dictionary, find the length of shortest trans-
formation sequence from start to end, such that only one letter can be changed at a
time and each intermediate word must exist in the dictionary. For example, given:
start = "hit"
end = "cog"
dict = ["hot","dot","dog","lot","log"]

One shortest transformation is "hit" ->"hot" ->"dot" ->"dog" ->"cog", the program
should return its length 5.
Note: Return 0 if there is no such transformation sequence. All words have the same
length. All words contain only lowercase alphabetic characters.
4.1 Naive Approach

In a simplest way, we can start from start word, change one character each time, if it
is in the dictionary, we continue with the replaced word, until start == end.
public class Solution {
public int ladderLength(String start, String end, HashSet<String> dict) {

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4 Word Ladder

int len=0;
HashSet<String> visited = new HashSet<String>();

for(int i=0; i<start.length(); i++){

char[] startArr = start.toCharArray();

for(char c=a; c<=z; c++){

if(c==start.toCharArray()[i]){
continue;
}

startArr[i] = c;
String temp = new String(startArr);
if(dict.contains(temp)){
len++;
start = temp;
if(temp.equals(end)){
return len;
}
}
}
}

return len;
}
}

This solution is wrong. The following example shows the problem. It can not find
the shortest path. The output is 3, but it actually only takes 2.
Input: "a", "c", ["a","b","c"]
Output: 3
Expected: 2

4.2 Breath First Search

So we quickly realize that this looks like a tree searching problem for which breath
first guarantees the optimal solution.

Assuming we have some words in the dictionary, and the start is "hit" as shown in
the diagram below.

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 4 Word Ladder

We can use two queues to traverse the tree, one stores the nodes, the other stores the
step numbers.
public int ladderLength(String start, String end, HashSet<String> dict) {
if (dict.size() == 0)
return 0;

dict.add(end);

LinkedList<String> wordQueue = new LinkedList<String>();

LinkedList<Integer> distanceQueue = new LinkedList<Integer>();

wordQueue.add(start);
distanceQueue.add(1);

//track the shortest path

int result = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
while (!wordQueue.isEmpty()) {
String currWord = wordQueue.pop();
Integer currDistance = distanceQueue.pop();

if (currWord.equals(end)) {
result = Math.min(result, currDistance);
}

for (int i = 0; i < currWord.length(); i++) {

char[] currCharArr = currWord.toCharArray();
for (char c = a; c <= z; c++) {
currCharArr[i] = c;

String newWord = new String(currCharArr);

if (dict.contains(newWord)) {

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 wordQueue.add(newWord);
distanceQueue.add(currDistance + 1);
dict.remove(newWord);
}
}
}
}

if (result < Integer.MAX_VALUE)

return result;
else
return 0;
}

4.3 What can be learned from this problem?

Use breath-first or depth-first search to solve problems

Use two queues, one for words and another for counting

5 Median of Two Sorted Arrays Java

There are two sorted arrays A and B of size m and n respectively. Find the median of the
two sorted arrays. The overall run time complexity should be O(log (m+n)).

5.1 Analysis

If we see log(n), we should think about using binary something.

This problem can be converted to the problem of finding kth element, k is (As length
+ B Length)/2.
If any of the two arrays is empty, then the kth element is the non-empty arrays kth
element. If k == 0, the kth element is the first element of A or B.

5.2 For normal cases(all other cases), we need to move the

pointer at the pace of half of an array length to get
log(n) time. Java Solution

public static double findMedianSortedArrays(int A[], int B[]) {

int m = A.length;

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 5 Median of Two Sorted Arrays Java

int n = B.length;

if ((m + n) % 2 != 0) // odd
return (double) findKth(A, B, (m + n) / 2, 0, m - 1, 0, n - 1);
else { // even
return (findKth(A, B, (m + n) / 2, 0, m - 1, 0, n - 1)
+ findKth(A, B, (m + n) / 2 - 1, 0, m - 1, 0, n - 1)) * 0.5;
}
}

public static int findKth(int A[], int B[], int k,

int aStart, int aEnd, int bStart, int bEnd) {

int aLen = aEnd - aStart + 1;

int bLen = bEnd - bStart + 1;

// Handle special cases

if (aLen == 0)
return B[bStart + k];
if (bLen == 0)
return A[aStart + k];
if (k == 0)
return A[aStart] < B[bStart] ? A[aStart] : B[bStart];

int aMid = aLen * k / (aLen + bLen); // as middle count

int bMid = k - aMid - 1; // bs middle count

// make aMid and bMid to be array index

aMid = aMid + aStart;
bMid = bMid + bStart;

if (A[aMid] > B[bMid]) {

k = k - (bMid - bStart + 1);
aEnd = aMid;
bStart = bMid + 1;
} else {
k = k - (aMid - aStart + 1);
bEnd = bMid;
aStart = aMid + 1;
}

return findKth(A, B, k, aStart, aEnd, bStart, bEnd);

}

5.3 The Steps of the Algorithm

Thanks to Gunner86. The description of the algorithm is awesome!

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1) Calculate the medians m1 and m2 of the input arrays ar1[] and ar2[]
respectively.
2) If m1 and m2 both are equal then we are done, and return m1 (or m2)
3) If m1 is greater than m2, then median is present in one of the below two
subarrays.
a) From first element of ar1 to m1 (ar1[0...|_n/2_|])
b) From m2 to last element of ar2 (ar2[|_n/2_|...n-1])
4) If m2 is greater than m1, then median is present in one of the below two
subarrays.
a) From m1 to last element of ar1 (ar1[|_n/2_|...n-1])
b) From first element of ar2 to m2 (ar2[0...|_n/2_|])
5) Repeat the above process until size of both the subarrays becomes 2.
6) If size of the two arrays is 2 then use below formula to get the median.
Median = (max(ar1[0], ar2[0]) + min(ar1[1], ar2[1]))/2

6 Regular Expression Matching in Java

Implement regular expression matching with support for . and *.

. Matches any single character. * Matches zero or more of the preceding element.
The matching should cover the entire input string (not partial).
The function prototype should be: bool isMatch(const char *s, const char *p)
Some examples: isMatch("aa","a") return false isMatch("aa","aa") return true isMatch("aaa","aa")
return false isMatch("aa", "a*") return true isMatch("aa", ".*") return true isMatch("ab",
".*") return true isMatch("aab", "c*a*b") return true
6.1 Analysis

First of all, this is one of the most difficulty problems. It is hard to think through all
different cases. The problem should be simplified to handle 2 basic cases:

the second char of pattern is "*"

the second char of pattern is not "*"

For the 1st case, if the first char of pattern is not ".", the first char of pattern and
string should be the same. Then continue to match the remaining part.
For the 2nd case, if the first char of pattern is "." or first char of pattern == the first i
char of string, continue to match the remaining part.

6.2 Java Solution 1 (Short)

The following Java solution is accepted.

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 6 Regular Expression Matching in Java

public class Solution {

public boolean isMatch(String s, String p) {

if(p.length() == 0)
return s.length() == 0;

//ps length 1 is special case

if(p.length() == 1 || p.charAt(1) != *){
if(s.length() < 1 || (p.charAt(0) != . && s.charAt(0) !=
p.charAt(0)))
return false;
return isMatch(s.substring(1), p.substring(1));

}else{
int len = s.length();

int i = -1;
while(i<len && (i < 0 || p.charAt(0) == . || p.charAt(0) ==
s.charAt(i))){
if(isMatch(s.substring(i+1), p.substring(2)))
return true;
i++;
}
return false;
}
}
}

6.3 Java Solution 2 (More Readable)

public boolean isMatch(String s, String p) {

// base case
if (p.length() == 0) {
return s.length() == 0;
}

// special case
if (p.length() == 1) {

// if the length of s is 0, return false

if (s.length() < 1) {
return false;
}

//if the first does not match, return false

else if ((p.charAt(0) != s.charAt(0)) && (p.charAt(0) != .)) {
return false;

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 }

// otherwise, compare the rest of the string of s and p.

else {
return isMatch(s.substring(1), p.substring(1));
}
}

// case 1: when the second char of p is not *

if (p.charAt(1) != *) {
if (s.length() < 1) {
return false;
}
if ((p.charAt(0) != s.charAt(0)) && (p.charAt(0) != .)) {
return false;
} else {
return isMatch(s.substring(1), p.substring(1));
}
}

// case 2: when the second char of p is *, complex case.

else {
//case 2.1: a char & * can stand for 0 element
if (isMatch(s, p.substring(2))) {
return true;
}

//case 2.2: a char & * can stand for 1 or more preceding element,
//so try every sub string
int i = 0;
while (i<s.length() && (s.charAt(i)==p.charAt(0) || p.charAt(0)==.)){
if (isMatch(s.substring(i + 1), p.substring(2))) {
return true;
}
i++;
}
return false;
}
}

7 Merge Intervals

Problem:
Given a collection of intervals, merge all overlapping intervals.

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 7 Merge Intervals

For example,
Given [1,3],[2,6],[8,10],[15,18],
return [1,6],[8,10],[15,18].

7.1 Thoughts of This Problem

The key to solve this problem is defining a Comparator first to sort the arraylist of
Intevals. And then merge some intervals.
The take-away message from this problem is utilizing the advantage of sorted list/ar-
ray.

7.2 Java Solution

class Interval {
int start;
int end;

Interval() {
start = 0;
end = 0;
}

Interval(int s, int e) {
start = s;
end = e;
}
}

public class Solution {

public ArrayList<Interval> merge(ArrayList<Interval> intervals) {

if (intervals == null || intervals.size() <= 1)

return intervals;

// sort intervals by using self-defined Comparator

Collections.sort(intervals, new IntervalComparator());

ArrayList<Interval> result = new ArrayList<Interval>();

Interval prev = intervals.get(0);

for (int i = 1; i < intervals.size(); i++) {
Interval curr = intervals.get(i);

if (prev.end >= curr.start) {

// merged case

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 Interval merged = new Interval(prev.start, Math.max(prev.end,
curr.end));
prev = merged;
} else {
result.add(prev);
prev = curr;
}
}

result.add(prev);

return result;
}
}

class IntervalComparator implements Comparator<Interval> {

public int compare(Interval i1, Interval i2) {
return i1.start - i2.start;
}
}

8 Insert Interval

Problem:
Given a set of non-overlapping & sorted intervals, insert a new interval into the intervals
(merge if necessary).
Example 1:
Given intervals [1,3],[6,9], insert and merge [2,5] in as [1,5],[6,9].

Example 2:
Given [1,2],[3,5],[6,7],[8,10],[12,16], insert and merge [4,9] in as
[1,2],[3,10],[12,16].

This is because the new interval [4,9] overlaps with [3,5],[6,7],[8,10].

8.1 Thoughts of This Problem

Quickly summarize 3 cases. Whenever there is intersection, created a new interval.

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 8 Insert Interval

8.2 Java Solution

/**
* Definition for an interval.
* public class Interval {
* int start;
* int end;
* Interval() { start = 0; end = 0; }
* Interval(int s, int e) { start = s; end = e; }
* }
*/
public class Solution {
public ArrayList<Interval> insert(ArrayList<Interval> intervals, Interval
newInterval) {

ArrayList<Interval> result = new ArrayList<Interval>();

for(Interval interval: intervals){

if(interval.end < newInterval.start){
result.add(interval);
}else if(interval.start > newInterval.end){
result.add(newInterval);
newInterval = interval;
}else if(interval.end >= newInterval.start || interval.start <=
newInterval.end){
newInterval = new Interval(Math.min(interval.start,
newInterval.start), Math.max(newInterval.end, interval.end));
}
}

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 result.add(newInterval);

return result;
}
}

9 Two Sum

Given an array of integers, find two numbers such that they add up to a specific
target number.
The function twoSum should return indices of the two numbers such that they add
up to the target, where index1 must be less than index2. Please note that your returned
answers (both index1 and index2) are not zero-based.
For example:
Input: numbers={2, 7, 11, 15}, target=9
Output: index1=1, index2=2

9.1 Naive Approach

This problem is pretty straightforward. We can simply examine every possible pair of
numbers in this integer array.
Time complexity in worst case: O(n2).
public static int[] twoSum(int[] numbers, int target) {
int[] ret = new int[2];
for (int i = 0; i < numbers.length; i++) {
for (int j = i + 1; j < numbers.length; j++) {
if (numbers[i] + numbers[j] == target) {
ret[0] = i + 1;
ret[1] = j + 1;
}
}
}
return ret;
}

Can we do better?

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9.2 Better Solution

Use HashMap to store the target value.

public class Solution {
public int[] twoSum(int[] numbers, int target) {
HashMap<Integer, Integer> map = new HashMap<Integer, Integer>();
int[] result = new int[2];

for (int i = 0; i < numbers.length; i++) {

if (map.containsKey(numbers[i])) {
int index = map.get(numbers[i]);
result[0] = index+1 ;
result[1] = i+1;
break;
} else {
map.put(target - numbers[i], i);
}
}

return result;
}
}

Time complexity depends on the put and get operations of HashMap which is nor-
mally O(1).

Time complexity of this solution is O(n). 10 Two Sum II

Input array is sorted

This problem is similar to Two Sum.

To solve this problem, we can use two points to scan the array from both sides. See
Java solution below:
public int[] twoSum(int[] numbers, int target) {
if (numbers == null || numbers.length == 0)
return null;

int i = 0;
int j = numbers.length - 1;

while (i < j) {
int x = numbers[i] + numbers[j];
if (x < target) {
++i;

27 | 247
 } else if (x > target) {
j--;
} else {
return new int[] { i + 1, j + 1 };
}
}

return null;
}

11 Two Sum III Data structure design

Design and implement a TwoSum class. It should support the following operations:
add and find.
add - Add the number to an internal data structure. find - Find if there exists any
pair of numbers which sum is equal to the value.
For example,
add(1);
add(3);
add(5);
find(4) -> true
find(7) -> false

11.1 Java Solution

Since the desired class need add and get operations, HashMap is a good option for
this purpose.
public class TwoSum {
private HashMap<Integer, Integer> elements = new HashMap<Integer,
Integer>();

public void add(int number) {

if (elements.containsKey(number)) {
elements.put(number, elements.get(number) + 1);
} else {
elements.put(number, 1);
}
}

public boolean find(int value) {

for (Integer i : elements.keySet()) {
int target = value - i;

28 | 247
 if (elements.containsKey(target)) {
if (i == target && elements.get(target) < 2) {
continue;
}
return true;
}
}
return false;
}
}

12 3Sum

Problem:
Given an array S of n integers, are there elements a, b, c in S such that a + b + c = 0?
Find all unique triplets in the array which gives the sum of zero.
Note: Elements in a triplet (a,b,c) must be in non-descending order. (ie, a b c)
The solution set must not contain duplicate triplets.
For example, given array S = {-1 0 1 2 -1 -4},

A solution set is:

(-1, 0, 1)
(-1, -1, 2)

12.1 Naive Solution

Naive solution is 3 loops, and this gives time complexity O(n3). Apparently this is not
an acceptable solution, but a discussion can start from here.
public class Solution {
public ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> threeSum(int[] num) {
//sort array
Arrays.sort(num);

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();
ArrayList<Integer> each = new ArrayList<Integer>();
for(int i=0; i<num.length; i++){
if(num[i] > 0) break;

for(int j=i+1; j<num.length; j++){

29 | 247
12 3Sum

if(num[i] + num[j] > 0 && num[j] > 0) break;

for(int k=j+1; k<num.length; k++){

if(num[i] + num[j] + num[k] == 0) {

each.add(num[i]);
each.add(num[j]);
each.add(num[k]);
result.add(each);
each.clear();
}
}
}
}

return result;
}
}

* The solution also does not handle duplicates. Therefore, it is not only time ineffi-
cient, but also incorrect.
Result:
Submission Result: Output Limit Exceeded

12.2 Better Solution

A better solution is using two pointers instead of one. This makes time complexity of
O(n2).
To avoid duplicate, we can take advantage of sorted arrays, i.e., move pointers by >1
to use same element only once.
public ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> threeSum(int[] num) {
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();

if (num.length < 3)
return result;

// sort array
Arrays.sort(num);

for (int i = 0; i < num.length - 2; i++) {

// //avoid duplicate solutions
if (i == 0 || num[i] > num[i - 1]) {

int negate = -num[i];

int start = i + 1;

30 | 247 Program Creek

 int end = num.length - 1;

while (start < end) {

//case 1
if (num[start] + num[end] == negate) {
ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>();
temp.add(num[i]);
temp.add(num[start]);
temp.add(num[end]);

result.add(temp);
start++;
end--;
//avoid duplicate solutions
while (start < end && num[end] == num[end + 1])
end--;

while (start < end && num[start] == num[start - 1])

start++;
//case 2
} else if (num[start] + num[end] < negate) {
start++;
//case 3
} else {
end--;
}
}

}
}

return result;
}

13 4Sum

Given an array S of n integers, are there elements a, b, c, and d in S such that a + b +

c + d = target? Find all unique quadruplets in the array which gives the sum of target.
Note: Elements in a quadruplet (a,b,c,d) must be in non-descending order. (ie, a
b c d) The solution set must not contain duplicate quadruplets.
For example, given array S = {1 0 -1 0 -2 2}, and target = 0.

A solution set is:

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13 4Sum

(-1, 0, 0, 1)
(-2, -1, 1, 2)
(-2, 0, 0, 2)

13.1 Thoughts

A typical k-sum problem. Time is N to the power of (k-1).

13.2 Java Solution

public ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> fourSum(int[] num, int target) {

Arrays.sort(num);

HashSet<ArrayList<Integer>> hashSet = new HashSet<ArrayList<Integer>>();

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();

for (int i = 0; i < num.length; i++) {

for (int j = i + 1; j < num.length; j++) {
int k = j + 1;
int l = num.length - 1;

while (k < l) {
int sum = num[i] + num[j] + num[k] + num[l];

if (sum > target) {

l--;
} else if (sum < target) {
k++;
} else if (sum == target) {
ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>();
temp.add(num[i]);
temp.add(num[j]);
temp.add(num[k]);
temp.add(num[l]);

if (!hashSet.contains(temp)) {
hashSet.add(temp);
result.add(temp);
}

k++;
l--;
}
}
}
}

return result;

32 | 247 Program Creek

}

Here is the hashCode method of ArrayList. It makes sure that if all elements of two
lists are the same, then the hash code of the two lists will be the same. Since each
element in the ArrayList is Integer, same integer has same hash code.
int hashCode = 1;
Iterator<E> i = list.iterator();
while (i.hasNext()) {
E obj = i.next();
hashCode = 31*hashCode + (obj==null ? 0 : obj.hashCode());
}

14 3Sum Closest

Given an array S of n integers, find three integers in S such that the sum is closest
to a given number, target. Return the sum of the three integers. You may assume that
each input would have exactly one solution. For example, given array S = -1 2 1 -4,
and target = 1. The sum that is closest to the target is 2. (-1 + 2 + 1 = 2).
14.1 Thoughts

This problem is similar with 2 Sum. This kind of problem can be solve by using similar
approach, i.e., two pointers from both left and right.

14.2 Java Solution

public class Solution {

public int threeSumClosest(int[] num, int target) {
int min = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
int result = 0;

Arrays.sort(num);

for (int i = 0; i < num.length; i++) {

int j = i + 1;
int k = num.length - 1;
while (j < k) {
int sum = num[i] + num[j] + num[k];
int diff = Math.abs(sum - target);

if(diff == 0) return 0;

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 if (diff < min) {
min = diff;
result = sum;
}
if (sum <= target) {
j++;
} else {
k--;
}
}
}

return result;
}
}

Time Complexity is O(n2). 15 String to Integer

(atoi)

Implement atoi to convert a string to an integer.

Hint: Carefully consider all possible input cases. If you want a challenge, please do
not see below and ask yourself what are the possible input cases.

15.1 Analysis

The following cases should be considered for this problem:

1. null or empty string
2. white spaces
3. +/- sign
4. calculate real value
5. handle min & max

15.2 Java Solution

public int atoi(String str) {

if (str == null || str.length() < 1)
return 0;

// trim white spaces

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 str = str.trim();

char flag = +;

// check negative or positive

int i = 0;
if (str.charAt(0) == -) {
flag = -;
i++;
} else if (str.charAt(0) == +) {
i++;
}
// use double to store result
double result = 0;

// calculate value
while (str.length() > i && str.charAt(i) >= 0 && str.charAt(i) <= 9) {
result = result * 10 + (str.charAt(i) - 0);
i++;
}

if (flag == -)
result = -result;

// handle max and min

if (result > Integer.MAX_VALUE)
return Integer.MAX_VALUE;

if (result < Integer.MIN_VALUE)

return Integer.MIN_VALUE;

return (int) result;

}

16 Merge Sorted Array

Given two sorted integer arrays A and B, merge B into A as one sorted array.

Note: You may assume that A has enough space to hold additional elements from
B. The number of elements initialized in A and B are m and n respectively.

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16.1 Analysis

The key to solve this problem is moving element of A and B backwards. If B has some
elements left after A is done, also need to handle that case.
The takeaway message from this problem is that the loop condition. This kind of
condition is also used for merging two sorted linked list.

16.2 Java Solution 1

public class Solution {

public void merge(int A[], int m, int B[], int n) {

while(m > 0 && n > 0){

if(A[m-1] > B[n-1]){
A[m+n-1] = A[m-1];
m--;
}else{
A[m+n-1] = B[n-1];
n--;
}
}

while(n > 0){

A[m+n-1] = B[n-1];
n--;
}
}
}

16.3 Java Solution 2

The loop condition also can use m+n like the following.
public void merge(int A[], int m, int B[], int n) {
int i = m - 1;
int j = n - 1;
int k = m + n - 1;

while (k >= 0) {
if (j < 0 || (i >= 0 && A[i] > B[j]))
A[k--] = A[i--];
else
A[k--] = B[j--];
}
}

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17 Valid Parentheses

Given a string containing just the characters (, ), , , [ and ], determine if the

input string is valid. The brackets must close in the correct order, "()" and "()[]" are all
valid but "(]" and "([)]" are not.

17.1 Analysis

17.2 Java Solution

public static boolean isValid(String s) {

HashMap<Character, Character> map = new HashMap<Character, Character>();
map.put((, ));
map.put([, ]);
map.put({, });

Stack<Character> stack = new Stack<Character>();

for (int i = 0; i < s.length(); i++) {

char curr = s.charAt(i);

if (map.keySet().contains(curr)) {
stack.push(curr);
} else if (map.values().contains(curr)) {
if (!stack.empty() && map.get(stack.peek()) == curr) {
stack.pop();
} else {
return false;
}
}
}

return stack.empty();
}

37 | 247
18 Implement strStr()

18 Implement strStr()

Problem:
Implement strStr(). Returns the index of the first occurrence of needle in haystack, or -1
if needle is not part of haystack.

18.1 Java Solution 1 - Naive

public int strStr(String haystack, String needle) {

if(haystack==null || needle==null)
return 0;

if(needle.length() == 0)
return 0;

for(int i=0; i<haystack.length(); i++){

if(i + needle.length() > haystack.length())
return -1;

int m = i;
for(int j=0; j<needle.length(); j++){
if(needle.charAt(j)==haystack.charAt(m)){
if(j==needle.length()-1)
return i;
m++;
}else{
break;
}

}
}

return -1;
}

18.2 Java Solution 2 - KMP

Check out this article to understand KMP algorithm.

public int strStr(String haystack, String needle) {
if(haystack==null || needle==null)
return 0;

int h = haystack.length();
int n = needle.length();

38 | 247 Program Creek

 if (n > h)
return -1;
if (n == 0)
return 0;

int[] next = getNext(needle);

int i = 0;

while (i <= h - n) {
int success = 1;
for (int j = 0; j < n; j++) {
if (needle.charAt(0) != haystack.charAt(i)) {
success = 0;
i++;
break;
} else if (needle.charAt(j) != haystack.charAt(i + j)) {
success = 0;
i = i + j - next[j - 1];
break;
}
}
if (success == 1)
return i;
}

return -1;
}

//calculate KMP array

public int[] getNext(String needle) {
int[] next = new int[needle.length()];
next[0] = 0;

for (int i = 1; i < needle.length(); i++) {

int index = next[i - 1];
while (index > 0 && needle.charAt(index) != needle.charAt(i)) {
index = next[index - 1];
}

if (needle.charAt(index) == needle.charAt(i)) {
next[i] = next[i - 1] + 1;
} else {
next[i] = 0;
}
}

return next;
}

39 | 247
19 Minimum Size Subarray Sum

19 Minimum Size Subarray Sum

Given an array of n positive integers and a positive integer s, find the minimal length
of a subarray of which the sum s. If there isnt one, return 0 instead.
For example, given the array [2,3,1,2,4,3] and s = 7, the subarray [4,3] has the minimal
length of 2 under the problem constraint.
19.1 Analysis

We can use 2 points to mark the left and right boundaries of the sliding window. When
the sum is greater than the target, shift the left pointer; when the sum is less than the
target, shift the right pointer.

19.2 Java Solution

public int minSubArrayLen(int s, int[] nums) {

if(nums == null || nums.length == 0){
return 0;
}

// initialize min length to be the input array length

int result = nums.length;

int i = 0;
int sum = nums[0];

for(int j=0; j<nums.length; ){

if(i==j){
if(nums[i]>=s){
return 1; //if single elem is large enough
}else{
j++;

if(j<nums.length){
sum = sum + nums[j];
}else{
return result;
}
}
}else{
//if sum is large enough, move left cursor
if(sum >= s){
result = Math.min(j-i+1, result);

40 | 247 Program Creek

 sum = sum - nums[i];
i++;
//if sum is not large enough, move right cursor
}else{
j++;

if(j<nums.length){
sum = sum + nums[j];
}else{
if(i==0){
return 0;
}else{
return result;
}
}
}
}
}

return result;
}

20 Search Insert Position

Given a sorted array and a target value, return the index if the target is found. If
not, return the index where it would be if it were inserted in order. You may assume
no duplicates in the array.
Here are few examples.
[1,3,5,6], 5 -> 2
[1,3,5,6], 2 -> 1
[1,3,5,6], 7 -> 4
[1,3,5,6], 0 -> 0

20.1 Solution 1

Naively, we can just iterate the array and compare target with ith and (i+1)th element.
Time complexity is O(n)
public class Solution {
public int searchInsert(int[] A, int target) {

if(A==null) return 0;

41 | 247
 if(target <= A[0]) return 0;

for(int i=0; i<A.length-1; i++){

if(target > A[i] && target <= A[i+1]){
return i+1;
}
}

return A.length;
}
}

20.2 Solution 2

This also looks like a binary search problem. We should try to make the complexity to
be O(log(n)).
public class Solution {
public int searchInsert(int[] A, int target) {
if(A==null||A.length==0)
return 0;

return searchInsert(A,target,0,A.length-1);
}

public int searchInsert(int[] A, int target, int start, int end){

int mid=(start+end)/2;

if(target==A[mid])
return mid;
else if(target<A[mid])
return start<mid?searchInsert(A,target,start,mid-1):start;
else
return end>mid?searchInsert(A,target,mid+1,end):(end+1);
}
}

21 Longest Consecutive Sequence

Given an unsorted array of integers, find the length of the longest consecutive ele-
ments sequence.

42 | 247
 21 Longest Consecutive Sequence

For example, given [100, 4, 200, 1, 3, 2], the longest consecutive elements sequence
should be [1, 2, 3, 4]. Its length is 4.
Your algorithm should run in O(n) complexity.
21.1 Analysis

Because it requires O(n) complexity, we can not solve the problem by sorting the array
first. Sorting takes at least O(nlogn) time.

21.2 Java Solution

We can use a HashSet to add and remove elements. HashSet is implemented by using
a hash table. Elements are not ordered. The add, remove and contains methods have
constant time complexity O(1).
public static int longestConsecutive(int[] num) {
// if array is empty, return 0
if (num.length == 0) {
return 0;
}

Set<Integer> set = new HashSet<Integer>();

int max = 1;

for (int e : num)

set.add(e);

for (int e : num) {

int left = e - 1;
int right = e + 1;
int count = 1;

while (set.contains(left)) {
count++;
set.remove(left);
left--;
}

while (set.contains(right)) {
count++;
set.remove(right);
right++;
}

max = Math.max(count, max);

}

return max;
}

Program Creek 43 | 247

 After an element is checked, it should be removed from the set. Otherwise, time
complexity would be O(mn) in which m is the average length of all consecutive se-
quences.
To clearly see the time complexity, I suggest you use some simple examples and
manually execute the program. For example, given an array 1,2,4,5,3, the program
time is m. m is the length of longest consecutive sequence.

We do have an extreme case here: If n is number of elements, m is average length

of consecutive sequence, and m==n, then the time complexity is O(n2). The

reason is that in this case, no element is removed from the set each time. You

can use this array to get the point: 1,3,5,7,9. 22 Valid

Palindrome

Given a string, determine if it is a palindrome, considering only alphanumeric charac-

ters and ignoring cases.
For example, "Red rum, sir, is murder" is a palindrome, while "Programcreek is
awesome" is not.
Note: Have you consider that the string might be empty? This is a good question to
ask during an interview.
For the purpose of this problem, we define empty string as valid palindrome.

22.1 Thoughts

From start and end loop though the string, i.e., char array. If it is not alpha or num-
ber, increase or decrease pointers. Compare the alpha and numeric characters. The
solution below is pretty straightforward.

22.2 Java Solution 1 - Naive

public class Solution {

public boolean isPalindrome(String s) {

if(s == null) return false;

if(s.length() < 2) return true;

char[] charArray = s.toCharArray();

int len = s.length();

44 | 247
 22 Valid Palindrome

int i=0;
int j=len-1;

while(i<j){
char left, right;

while(i<len-1 && !isAlpha(left) && !isNum(left)){

i++;
left = charArray[i];
}

while(j>0 && !isAlpha(right) && !isNum(right)){

j--;
right = charArray[j];
}

if(i >= j)
break;

left = charArray[i];
right = charArray[j];

if(!isSame(left, right)){
return false;
}

i++;
j--;
}
return true;
}

public boolean isAlpha(char a){

if((a >= a && a <= z) || (a >= A && a <= Z)){
return true;
}else{
return false;
}
}

public boolean isNum(char a){

if(a >= 0 && a <= 9){
return true;
}else{
return false;
}
}

public boolean isSame(char a, char b){

Program Creek 45 | 247

22 Valid Palindrome

if(isNum(a) && isNum(b)){

return a == b;
}else if(Character.toLowerCase(a) == Character.toLowerCase(b)){
return true;
}else{
return false;
}
}
}

22.3 Java Solution 2 - Using Stack

This solution removes the special characters first. (Thanks to Tia)

public boolean isPalindrome(String s) {
s = s.replaceAll("[^a-zA-Z0-9]", "").toLowerCase();

int len = s.length();

if (len < 2)
return true;

Stack<Character> stack = new Stack<Character>();

int index = 0;
while (index < len / 2) {
stack.push(s.charAt(index));
index++;
}

if (len % 2 == 1)
index++;

while (index < len) {

if (stack.empty())
return false;

char temp = stack.pop();

if (s.charAt(index) != temp)
return false;
else
index++;
}

return true;
}

46 | 247 Program Creek

22.4 Java Solution 3 - Using Two Pointers

In the discussion below, April and Frank use two pointers to solve this problem. This
solution looks really simple.
public class ValidPalindrome {
public static boolean isValidPalindrome(String s){
if(s==null||s.length()==0) return false;

s = s.replaceAll("[^a-zA-Z0-9]", "").toLowerCase();
System.out.println(s);

for(int i = 0; i < s.length() ; i++){

if(s.charAt(i) != s.charAt(s.length() - 1 - i)){
return false;
}
}

return true;
}

public static void main(String[] args) {

String str = "A man, a plan, a canal: Panama";

System.out.println(isValidPalindrome(str));
}
}

23 ZigZag Conversion

The string "PAYPALISHIRING" is written in a zigzag pattern on a given number of

rows like this: (you may want to display this pattern in a fixed font for better legibility)
P A H N
A P L S I I G
Y I R

And then read line by line: "PAHNAPLSIIGYIR" Write the a method convert("PAYPALISHIRING",
3) which returns "PAHNAPLSIIGYIR".
23.1 Java Solution

public String convert(String s, int numRows) {

if (numRows == 1)

47 | 247
 return s;

StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();

// step
int step = 2 * numRows - 2;

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

//first & last rows
if (i == 0 || i == numRows - 1) {
for (int j = i; j < s.length(); j = j + step) {
sb.append(s.charAt(j));
}
//middle rows
} else {
int j = i;
boolean flag = true;
int step1 = 2 * (numRows - 1 - i);
int step2 = step - step1;

while (j < s.length()) {

sb.append(s.charAt(j));
if (flag)
j = j + step1;
else
j = j + step2;
flag = !flag;
}
}
}

return sb.toString();
}

24 Add Binary

Given two binary strings, return their sum (also a binary string).
For example, a = "11", b = "1", the return is "100".
24.1 Java Solution

Very simple, nothing special. Note how to convert a character to an int.

public String addBinary(String a, String b) {
if(a==null || a.length()==0)
return b;

48 | 247
 if(b==null || b.length()==0)
return a;

int pa = a.length()-1;
int pb = b.length()-1;

int flag = 0;
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
while(pa >= 0 || pb >=0){
int va = 0;
int vb = 0;

if(pa >= 0){

va = a.charAt(pa)==0? 0 : 1;
pa--;
}
if(pb >= 0){
vb = b.charAt(pb)==0? 0: 1;
pb--;
}

int sum = va + vb + flag;

if(sum >= 2){
sb.append(String.valueOf(sum-2));
flag = 1;
}else{
flag = 0;
sb.append(String.valueOf(sum));
}
}

if(flag == 1){
sb.append("1");
}

String reversed = sb.reverse().toString();

return reversed;
}

25 Length of Last Word

Given a string s consists of upper/lower-case alphabets and empty space characters

, return the length of last word in the string. If the last word does not exist, return 0.

49 | 247
25.1 Java Solution

Very simple question. We just need a flag to mark the start of letters from the end. If
a letter starts and the next character is not a letter, return the length.
public int lengthOfLastWord(String s) {
if(s==null || s.length() == 0)
return 0;

int result = 0;
int len = s.length();

boolean flag = false;

for(int i=len-1; i>=0; i--){
char c = s.charAt(i);
if((c>=a && c<=z) || (c>=A && c<=Z)){
flag = true;
result++;
}else{
if(flag)
return result;
}
}

return result;
}

26 Triangle

Given a triangle, find the minimum path sum from top to bottom. Each step you
may move to adjacent numbers on the row below.
For example, given the following triangle
[
[2],
[3,4],
[6,5,7],
[4,1,8,3]
]

The minimum path sum from top to bottom is 11 (i.e., 2 + 3 + 5 + 1 = 11).

Note: Bonus point if you are able to do this using only O(n) extra space, where n is
the total number of rows in the triangle.

50 | 247
 26 Triangle

26.1 Top-Down Approach (Wrong Answer!)

This solution gets wrong answer! I will try to make it work later.
public class Solution {
public int minimumTotal(ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> triangle) {

int[] temp = new int[triangle.size()];

int minTotal = Integer.MAX_VALUE;

for(int i=0; i< temp.length; i++){

temp[i] = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
}

if (triangle.size() == 1) {
return Math.min(minTotal, triangle.get(0).get(0));
}

int first = triangle.get(0).get(0);

for (int i = 0; i < triangle.size() - 1; i++) {

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

int a, b;

if(i==0 && j==0){

a = first + triangle.get(i + 1).get(j);
b = first + triangle.get(i + 1).get(j + 1);

}else{
a = temp[j] + triangle.get(i + 1).get(j);
b = temp[j] + triangle.get(i + 1).get(j + 1);

temp[j] = Math.min(a, temp[j]);

temp[j + 1] = Math.min(b, temp[j + 1]);
}
}

for (int e : temp) {

if (e < minTotal)
minTotal = e;
}

return minTotal;
}
}

Program Creek 51 | 247

26.2 Bottom-Up (Good Solution)

We can actually start from the bottom of the triangle.

public int minimumTotal(ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> triangle) {
int[] total = new int[triangle.size()];
int l = triangle.size() - 1;

for (int i = 0; i < triangle.get(l).size(); i++) {

total[i] = triangle.get(l).get(i);
}

// iterate from last second row

for (int i = triangle.size() - 2; i >= 0; i--) {
for (int j = 0; j < triangle.get(i + 1).size() - 1; j++) {
total[j] = triangle.get(i).get(j) + Math.min(total[j], total[j + 1]);
}
}

return total[0];
}

27 Contains Duplicate

Given an array of integers, find if the array contains any duplicates. Your function
should return true if any value appears at least twice in the array, and it should return
false if every element is distinct.
27.1 Java Solution

public boolean containsDuplicate(int[] nums) {

if(nums==null || nums.length==0)
return false;

HashSet<Integer> set = new HashSet<Integer>();

for(int i: nums){
if(!set.add(i)){
return true;
}
}

return false;
}

52 | 247
28 Contains Duplicate II

Given an array of integers and an integer k, return true if and only if there are two
distinct indices i and j in the array such that nums[i] = nums[j] and the difference
between i and j is at most k.

28.1 Java Solution

public boolean containsNearbyDuplicate(int[] nums, int k) {

HashMap<Integer, Integer> map = new HashMap<Integer, Integer>();
int min = Integer.MAX_VALUE;

for(int i=0; i<nums.length; i++){

if(map.containsKey(nums[i])){
int preIndex = map.get(nums[i]);
int gap = i-preIndex;
min = Math.min(min, gap);
}
map.put(nums[i], i);
}

if(min <= k){

return true;
}else{
return false;
}
}

29 Remove Duplicates from Sorted Array

Given a sorted array, remove the duplicates in place such that each element appear
only once and return the new length. Do not allocate extra space for another array,
you must do this in place with constant memory.
For example, given input array A = [1,1,2], your function should return length = 2,
and A is now [1,2].

53 | 247
29 Remove Duplicates from Sorted Array

29.1 Thoughts

The problem is pretty straightforward. It returns the length of array with unique
elements, but the original array need to be changed also. This problem should be
reviewed with Remove Duplicates from Sorted Array II.

29.2 Solution 1

// Manipulate original array

public static int removeDuplicatesNaive(int[] A) {
if (A.length < 2)
return A.length;

int j = 0;
int i = 1;

while (i < A.length) {

if (A[i] == A[j]) {
i++;
} else {
j++;
A[j] = A[i];
i++;
}
}

return j + 1;
}

This method returns the number of unique elements, but does not change the orig-
inal array correctly. For example, if the input array is 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, the array will be
changed to 1, 2, 3, 3, 3. The correct result should be 1, 2, 3. Because arrays size can
not be changed once created, there is no way we can return the original array with
correct results.

29.3 Solution 2

// Create an array with all unique elements

public static int[] removeDuplicates(int[] A) {
if (A.length < 2)
return A;

int j = 0;
int i = 1;

while (i < A.length) {

54 | 247 Program Creek

 if (A[i] == A[j]) {
i++;
} else {
j++;
A[j] = A[i];
i++;
}
}

int[] B = Arrays.copyOf(A, j + 1);

return B;
}

public static void main(String[] args) {

int[] arr = { 1, 2, 2, 3, 3 };
arr = removeDuplicates(arr);
System.out.println(arr.length);
}

In this method, a new array is created and returned.

29.4 Solution 3

If we only want to count the number of unique elements, the following method is
good enough.
// Count the number of unique elements
public static int countUnique(int[] A) {
int count = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < A.length - 1; i++) {
if (A[i] == A[i + 1]) {
count++;
}
}
return (A.length - count);
}

public static void main(String[] args) {

int[] arr = { 1, 2, 2, 3, 3 };
int size = countUnique(arr);
System.out.println(size);
}

55 | 247
30 Remove Duplicates from Sorted Array II

30 Remove Duplicates from Sorted Array

II

Follow up for "Remove Duplicates": What if duplicates are allowed at most twice?
For example, given sorted array A = [1,1,1,2,2,3], your function should return length
= 5, and A is now [1,1,2,2,3].
30.1 Naive Approach

Given the method signature "public int removeDuplicates(int[] A)", it seems that we
should write a method that returns a integer and thats it. After typing the following
solution:
public class Solution {
public int removeDuplicates(int[] A) {
if(A == null || A.length == 0)
return 0;

int pre = A[0];

boolean flag = false;
int count = 0;

for(int i=1; i<A.length; i++){

int curr = A[i];

if(curr == pre){
if(!flag){
flag = true;
continue;
}else{
count++;
}
}else{
pre = curr;
flag = false;
}
}

return A.length - count;

}
}

Online Judge returns:

Submission Result: Wrong Answer
Input: [1,1,1,2]
Output: [1,1,1]
Expected: [1,1,2]

56 | 247 Program Creek

 30 Remove Duplicates from Sorted Array II

So this problem also requires in-place array manipulation.

30.2 Correct Solution

We can not change the given arrays size, so we only change the first k elements of the
array which has duplicates removed.
public class Solution {
public int removeDuplicates(int[] A) {
if (A == null || A.length == 0)
return 0;

int pre = A[0];

boolean flag = false;
int count = 0;

// index for updating

int o = 1;

for (int i = 1; i < A.length; i++) {

int curr = A[i];

if (curr == pre) {
if (!flag) {
flag = true;
A[o++] = curr;

continue;
} else {
count++;
}
} else {
pre = curr;
A[o++] = curr;
flag = false;
}
}

return A.length - count;

}
}

30.3 Better Solution

public class Solution {

public int removeDuplicates(int[] A) {
if (A.length <= 2)

Program Creek 57 | 247

 return A.length;

int prev = 1; // point to previous

int curr = 2; // point to current

while (curr < A.length) {

if (A[curr] == A[prev] && A[curr] == A[prev - 1]) {
curr++;
} else {
prev++;
A[prev] = A[curr];
curr++;
}
}

return prev + 1;
}
}

31 Longest Substring Without Repeating

Characters

Given a string, find the length of the longest substring without repeating characters.
For example, the longest substring without repeating letters for "abcabcbb" is "abc",
which the length is 3. For "bbbbb" the longest substring is "b", with the length of 1.
31.1 Java Solution 1

The first solution is like the problem of "determine if a string has all unique characters"
in CC 150. We can use a flag array to track the existing characters for the longest
substring without repeating characters.
public int lengthOfLongestSubstring(String s) {
boolean[] flag = new boolean[256];

int result = 0;
int start = 0;
char[] arr = s.toCharArray();

for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {

char current = arr[i];
if (flag[current]) {
result = Math.max(result, i - start);

58 | 247
 31 Longest Substring Without Repeating Characters

// the loop update the new start point

// and reset flag array
// for example, abccab, when it comes to 2nd c,
// it update start from 0 to 3, reset flag for a,b
for (int k = start; k < i; k++) {
if (arr[k] == current) {
start = k + 1;
break;
}
flag[arr[k]] = false;
}
} else {
flag[current] = true;
}
}

result = Math.max(arr.length - start, result);

return result;
}

31.2 Java Solution 2

This solution is from Tia. It is easier to understand than the first solution.
The basic idea is using a hash table to track existing characters and their position.
When a repeated character occurs, check from the previously repeated character. How-
ever, the time complexity is higher - O(n3).
public static int lengthOfLongestSubstring(String s) {

char[] arr = s.toCharArray();

int pre = 0;

HashMap<Character, Integer> map = new HashMap<Character, Integer>();

for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {

if (!map.containsKey(arr[i])) {
map.put(arr[i], i);
} else {
pre = Math.max(pre, map.size());
i = map.get(arr[i]);
map.clear();
}
}

return Math.max(pre, map.size());

}

Program Creek 59 | 247

 Consider the following simple example.
abcda

When loop hits the second "a", the HashMap contains the following:
a 0
b 1
c 2
d 3

The index i is set to 0 and incremented by 1, so the loop start from second element

again. 32 Longest Substring Which

Contains 2 Unique Characters

This is a problem asked by Google.

Given a string, find the longest substring that contains only two unique charac-
ters. For example, given "abcbbbbcccbdddadacb", the longest substring that contains
2 unique character is "bcbbbbcccb".

32.1 Longest Substring Which Contains 2 Unique

Characters

In this solution, a hashmap is used to track the right most index of 2 unique elements
in the map. When a third character is being added to the map, the left pointer needs
to move to the leftmost position in the map.
You can use "abac" to walk through this solution.
public static String maxSubString2UniqueChars(String s) {
int maxLen = 0;
String maxSubstring = null;
int m = 0;

// declare a map to track the right most position of the two characters
HashMap<Character, Integer> map = new HashMap<Character, Integer>();

for (int i = 0; i < s.length(); i++) {

char c = s.charAt(i);
// if map contains 2 characters, process
if (map.size() == 2 && !map.containsKey(c)) {
if (i - m > maxLen) {
maxLen = i - m;

60 | 247
 32 Longest Substring Which Contains 2 Unique Characters

maxSubstring = s.substring(m, i);

}

// get the left most index for

int leftMost = s.length();
for (Entry<Character, Integer> entry : map.entrySet()) {
if (entry.getValue() < leftMost) {
leftMost = entry.getValue();
}
}

m = leftMost + 1;
map.remove(s.charAt(leftMost));
}

map.put(c, i);
}

if (map.size() == 2 && maxLen == 0) {

return s;
}

return maxSubstring;
}

Now if this question is extended to be "the longest substring that contains k unique
characters", what should we do? Apparently, the solution above is not scalable.

32.2 Naive Solution for K Unique Characters

The above solution can be extended to be a more general solution which would allow
k distinct characters.
public static String maxSubStringKUniqueChars(String s, int k) {
int maxLen = 0;
String maxSubstring = null;
int m = 0;

// declare a map to track the right most position of the two characters
HashMap<Character, Integer> map = new HashMap<Character, Integer>();

for (int i = 0; i < s.length(); i++) {

char c = s.charAt(i);
// if map contains 2 characters, process
if (map.size() == k && !map.containsKey(c)) {
if (i - m > maxLen) {
maxLen = i - m;
maxSubstring = s.substring(m, i);
}

Program Creek 61 | 247

32 Longest Substring Which Contains 2 Unique Characters

int leftMost = s.length();

for (Entry<Character, Integer> entry : map.entrySet()) {
if (entry.getValue() < leftMost) {
leftMost = entry.getValue();
}
}

m = leftMost + 1;
map.remove(s.charAt(leftMost));
}

map.put(c, i);
}

if (map.size() == k && maxLen == 0) {

return s;
}

return maxSubstring;
}

The time is O(n*k). Can you get a better solution?

32.3 Better Solution for K Unique Characters

public static String maxSubStringKUniqueChars(String s, int k) {

//declare a counter
HashMap<Character, Integer> map = new HashMap<Character, Integer>();
int start = 0;
int maxLen = 0;
String maxSubstring = null;

for (int i = 0; i < s.length(); i++) {

//add each char to the counter
char c = s.charAt(i);
if(map.containsKey(c)){
map.put(c, map.get(c)+1);
}else{
map.put(c, 1);
}

if(map.size() == k+1){
//get maximum
int range = i-start;
if(range > maxLen){
maxLen = range;
maxSubstring = s.substring(start, i);

62 | 247 Program Creek

 }

//move left cursor toward right, so that substring contains only k chars
char first = s.charAt(start);
while(map.size()>k){
int count = map.get(first);
if(count>1){
map.put(first,count-1);
}else{
map.remove(first);
}
start++;
}
}
}

if (map.size() == k && maxLen == 0) {

return s;
}

return maxSubstring;
}

Time is O(n). 33 Minimum Window Substring

Given a string S and a string T, find the minimum window in S which will contain all
the characters in T in complexity O(n).
For example, S = "ADOBECODEBANC", T = "ABC", Minimum window is "BANC".

33.1 Java Solution

public String minWindow(String s, String t) {

if(t.length()>s.length())
return "";
String result = "";

//character counter for t

HashMap<Character, Integer> target = new HashMap<Character, Integer>();
for(int i=0; i<t.length(); i++){
char c = t.charAt(i);
if(target.containsKey(c)){
target.put(c,target.get(c)+1);
}else{
target.put(c,1);

63 | 247
 }
}

// character counter for s

HashMap<Character, Integer> map = new HashMap<Character, Integer>();
int left = 0;
int minLen = s.length()+1;

int count = 0; // the total of mapped characters

for(int i=0; i<s.length(); i++){

char c = s.charAt(i);

if(target.containsKey(c)){
if(map.containsKey(c)){
if(map.get(c)<target.get(c)){
count++;
}
map.put(c,map.get(c)+1);
}else{
map.put(c,1);
count++;
}
}

if(count == t.length()){
char sc = s.charAt(left);
while (!map.containsKey(sc) || map.get(sc) > target.get(sc)) {
if (map.containsKey(sc) && map.get(sc) > target.get(sc))
map.put(sc, map.get(sc) - 1);
left++;
sc = s.charAt(left);
}

if (i - left + 1 < minLen) {

result = s.substring(left, i + 1);
minLen = i - left + 1;
}
}
}

return result;
}

64 | 247
34 Reverse Words in a String

Given an input string, reverse the string word by word.

For example, given s = "the sky is blue", return "blue is sky the".
34.1 Java Solution

This problem is pretty straightforward. We first split the string to words array, and
then iterate through the array and add each element to a new string. Note: String-
Builder should be used to avoid creating too many Strings. If the string is very long,
using String is not scalable since String is immutable and too many objects will be
created and garbage collected.
class Solution {
public String reverseWords(String s) {
if (s == null || s.length() == 0) {
return "";
}

// split to words by space

String[] arr = s.split(" ");
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
for (int i = arr.length - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
if (!arr[i].equals("")) {
sb.append(arr[i]).append(" ");
}
}
return sb.length() == 0 ? "" : sb.substring(0, sb.length() - 1);
}
}

35 Find Minimum in Rotated Sorted

Array

Suppose a sorted array is rotated at some pivot unknown to you beforehand. (i.e., 0
1 2 4 5 6 7 might become 4 5 6 7 0 1 2).
Find the minimum element.You may assume no duplicate exists in the array.
35.1 Thoughts

When we search something from a sorted array, binary search is almost a top choice.
Binary search is efficient for sorted arrays.

65 | 247
 This problems seems like a binary search, and the key is how to break the array to
two parts, so that we only need to work on half of the array each time, i.e., when to
select the left half and when to select the right half.
If we pick the middle element, we can compare the middle element with the left-end
element. If middle is less than leftmost, the left half should be selected; if the middle
is greater than the leftmost, the right half should be selected. Using simple recursion,
this problem can be solve in time log(n).
In addition, in any rotated sorted array, the rightmost element should be less than
the left-most element, otherwise, the sorted array is not rotated and we can simply
pick the leftmost element as the minimum.

35.2 Java Solution

Define a helper function, otherwise, we will need to use Arrays.copyOfRange() func-

tion, which may be expensive for large arrays.
public int findMin(int[] num) {
return findMin(num, 0, num.length - 1);
}

public int findMin(int[] num, int left, int right) {

if (left == right)
return num[left];
if ((right - left) == 1)
return Math.min(num[left], num[right]);

int middle = left + (right - left) / 2;

// not rotated
if (num[left] < num[right]) {
return num[left];

// go right side
} else if (num[middle] > num[left]) {
return findMin(num, middle, right);

// go left side
} else {
return findMin(num, left, middle);
}
}

66 | 247
36 Find Minimum in Rotated Sorted
Array II

36.1 Problem

Follow up for "Find Minimum in Rotated Sorted Array": What if duplicates are al-
lowed?
Would this affect the run-time complexity? How and why?

36.2 Java Solution

This is a follow-up problem of finding minimum element in rotated sorted array with-
out duplicate elements. We only need to add one more condition, which checks if
the left-most element and the right-most element are equal. If they are we can simply
drop one of them. In my solution below, I drop the left element whenever the left-most
equals to the right-most.
public int findMin(int[] num) {
return findMin(num, 0, num.length-1);
}

public int findMin(int[] num, int left, int right){

if(right==left){
return num[left];
}
if(right == left +1){
return Math.min(num[left], num[right]);
}
// 3 3 1 3 3 3

int middle = (right-left)/2 + left;

// already sorted
if(num[right] > num[left]){
return num[left];
//right shift one
}else if(num[right] == num[left]){
return findMin(num, left+1, right);
//go right
}else if(num[middle] >= num[left]){
return findMin(num, middle, right);
//go left
}else{
return findMin(num, left, middle);
}
}

67 | 247
37 Find Peak Element

A peak element is an element that is greater than its neighbors. Given an input array
where num[i] 6= num[i+1], find a peak element and return its index. The array may
contain multiple peaks, in that case return the index to any one of the peaks is fine.
You may imagine that num[-1] = num[n] = -. For example, in array [1, 2, 3, 1], 3 is
a peak element and your function should return the index number 2.
37.1 Thoughts

This is a very simple problem. We can scan the array and find any element that is
greater can its previous and next. The first and last element are handled separately.

37.2 Java Solution

public class Solution {

public int findPeakElement(int[] num) {
int max = num[0];
int index = 0;
for(int i=1; i<=num.length-2; i++){
int prev = num[i-1];
int curr = num[i];
int next = num[i+1];

if(curr > prev && curr > next && curr > max){
index = i;
max = curr;
}
}

if(num[num.length-1] > max){

return num.length-1;
}

return index;
}
}

68 | 247
 38 Min Stack

38 Min Stack

Design a stack that supports push, pop, top, and retrieving the minimum element
in constant time.
push(x) Push element x onto stack. pop() Removes the element on top of the
stack. top() Get the top element. getMin() Retrieve the minimum element in the
stack.
38.1 Thoughts

An array is a perfect fit for this problem. We can use a integer to track the top of the
stack. You can use the Stack class from Java SDK, but I think a simple array is more
efficient and more beautiful.

38.2 Java Solution

class MinStack {
private int[] arr = new int[100];
private int index = -1;

public void push(int x) {

if(index == arr.length - 1){
arr = Arrays.copyOf(arr, arr.length*2);
}
arr[++index] = x;
}

public void pop() {

if(index>-1){
if(index == arr.length/2 && arr.length > 100){
arr = Arrays.copyOf(arr, arr.length/2);
}
index--;
}
}

public int top() {

if(index > -1){
return arr[index];
}else{
return 0;
}
}

public int getMin() {

int min = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
for(int i=0; i<=index; i++){

Program Creek 69 | 247

 if(arr[i] < min)
min = arr[i];
}
return min;
}
}

39 Majority Element

Problem:
Given an array of size n, find the majority element. The majority element is the
element that appears more than b n/2 c times. You may assume that the array is
non-empty and the majority element always exist in the array.
39.1 Java Solution 1

We can sort the array first, which takes time of nlog(n). Then scan once to find the
longest consecutive substrings.
public class Solution {
public int majorityElement(int[] num) {
if(num.length==1){
return num[0];
}

Arrays.sort(num);

int prev=num[0];
int count=1;
for(int i=1; i<num.length; i++){
if(num[i] == prev){
count++;
if(count > num.length/2) return num[i];
}else{
count=1;
prev = num[i];
}
}

return 0;
}
}

70 | 247
39.2 Java Solution 2 - Much Simpler

Thanks to SK. His/her solution is much efficient and simpler. Since the majority al-
ways take more than a half space, the middle element is guaranteed to be the majority.
Sorting array takes nlog(n). So the time complexity of this solution is nlog(n). Cheers!
public int majorityElement(int[] num) {
if (num.length == 1) {
return num[0];
}

Arrays.sort(num);
return num[num.length / 2];
}

40 Remove Element

Given an array and a value, remove all instances of that value in place and return
the new length. (Note: The order of elements can be changed. It doesnt matter what
you leave beyond the new length.)
40.1 Java Solution

This problem can be solve by using two indices.

public int removeElement(int[] A, int elem) {
int i=0;
int j=0;

while(j < A.length){

if(A[j] != elem){
A[i] = A[j];
i++;
}

j++;
}

return i;
}

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41 Largest Rectangle in Histogram

41 Largest Rectangle in Histogram

Given n non-negative integers representing the histograms bar height where the
width of each bar is 1, find the area of largest rectangle in the histogram.

Above is a histogram where width of each bar is 1, given height = [2,1,5,6,2,3].

For example, given height = [2,1,5,6,2,3], return 10.

41.1 Analysis

The key to solve this problem is to maintain a stack to store bars indexes. The stack
only keeps the increasing bars.

41.2 Java Solution

public int largestRectangleArea(int[] height) {

if (height == null || height.length == 0) {
return 0;
}

72 | 247 Program Creek

 Stack<Integer> stack = new Stack<Integer>();

int max = 0;
int i = 0;

while (i < height.length) {

//push index to stack when the current height is larger than the previous
one
if (stack.isEmpty() || height[i] >= height[stack.peek()]) {
stack.push(i);
i++;
} else {
//calculate max value when the current height is less than the previous
one
int p = stack.pop();
int h = height[p];
int w = stack.isEmpty() ? i : i - stack.peek() - 1;
max = Math.max(h * w, max);
}

while (!stack.isEmpty()) {
int p = stack.pop();
int h = height[p];
int w = stack.isEmpty() ? i : i - stack.peek() - 1;
max = Math.max(h * w, max);
}

return max;
}

42 Longest Common Prefix

42.1 Problem

Write a function to find the longest common prefix string amongst an array of strings.

42.2 Analysis

To solve this problem, we need to find the two loop conditions. One is the length of
the shortest string. The other is iteration over every element of the string array.

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42.3 Java Solution

public String longestCommonPrefix(String[] strs) {

if(strs == null || strs.length == 0)
return "";

int minLen=Integer.MAX_VALUE;
for(String str: strs){
if(minLen > str.length())
minLen = str.length();
}
if(minLen == 0) return "";

for(int j=0; j<minLen; j++){

char prev=0;
for(int i=0; i<strs.length ;i++){
if(i==0) {
prev = strs[i].charAt(j);
continue;
}

if(strs[i].charAt(j) != prev){
return strs[i].substring(0, j);
}
}
}

return strs[0].substring(0,minLen);
}

43 Largest Number

Given a list of non negative integers, arrange them such that they form the largest
number.
For example, given [3, 30, 34, 5, 9], the largest formed number is 9534330. (Note:
The result may be very large, so you need to return a string instead of an integer.)
43.1 Analysis

This problem can be solve by simply sorting strings, not sorting integer. Define a
comparator to compare strings by concat() right-to-left or left-to-right.

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43.2 Java Solution

public String largestNumber(int[] num) {

String[] NUM = new String[num.length];

for (int i = 0; i <num.length; i++) {

NUM[i] = String.valueOf(num[i]);
}

java.util.Arrays.sort(NUM, new java.util.Comparator<String>() {

public int compare(String left, String right) {
String leftRight = left.concat(right);
String rightLeft = right.concat(left);
return rightLeft.compareTo(leftRight);
}
});

StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();

for (int i = 0; i < NUM.length; i++) {
sb.append(NUM[i]);
}

java.math.BigInteger result = new java.math.BigInteger(sb.toString());

return result.toString();
}

44 Simplify Path

Given an absolute path for a file (Unix-style), simplify it.

For example,
path = "/home/", => "/home"
path = "/a/./b/../../c/", => "/c"
path = "/../", => "/"
path = "/home//foo/", => "/home/foo"

44.1 Java Solution

public String simplifyPath(String path) {

Stack<String> stack = new Stack<String>();

//stack.push(path.substring(0,1));

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 while(path.length()> 0 && path.charAt(path.length()-1) ==/){
path = path.substring(0, path.length()-1);
}

int start = 0;
for(int i=1; i<path.length(); i++){
if(path.charAt(i) == /){
stack.push(path.substring(start, i));
start = i;
}else if(i==path.length()-1){
stack.push(path.substring(start));
}
}

LinkedList<String> result = new LinkedList<String>();

int back = 0;
while(!stack.isEmpty()){
String top = stack.pop();

if(top.equals("/.") || top.equals("/")){
//nothing
}else if(top.equals("/..")){
back++;
}else{
if(back > 0){
back--;
}else{
result.push(top);
}
}
}

//if empty, return "/"

if(result.isEmpty()){
return "/";
}

StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();

while(!result.isEmpty()){
String s = result.pop();
sb.append(s);
}

return sb.toString();
}

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45 Compare Version Numbers

45.1 Problem

Compare two version numbers version1 and version2. If version1 >version2 return 1,
if version1 <version2 return -1, otherwise return 0.
You may assume that the version strings are non-empty and contain only digits and
the . character. The . character does not represent a decimal point and is used to
separate number sequences.
Here is an example of version numbers ordering:
0.1 < 1.1 < 1.2 < 13.37

45.2 Java Solution

The tricky part of the problem is to handle cases like 1.0 and 1. They should be equal.
public int compareVersion(String version1, String version2) {
String[] arr1 = version1.split("\\.");
String[] arr2 = version2.split("\\.");

int i=0;
while(i<arr1.length || i<arr2.length){
if(i<arr1.length && i<arr2.length){
if(Integer.parseInt(arr1[i]) < Integer.parseInt(arr2[i])){
return -1;
}else if(Integer.parseInt(arr1[i]) > Integer.parseInt(arr2[i])){
return 1;
}
} else if(i<arr1.length){
if(Integer.parseInt(arr1[i]) != 0){
return 1;
}
} else if(i<arr2.length){
if(Integer.parseInt(arr2[i]) != 0){
return -1;
}
}

i++;
}

return 0;
}

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46 Gas Station

46 Gas Station

There are N gas stations along a circular route, where the amount of gas at station i
is gas[i].
You have a car with an unlimited gas tank and it costs cost[i] of gas to travel from
station i to its next station (i+1). You begin the journey with an empty tank at one of
the gas stations.
Return the starting gas stations index if you can travel around the circuit once,
otherwise return -1.
46.1 Analysis

To solve this problem, we need to understand and use the following 2 facts: 1) if the
sum of gas >= the sum of cost, then the circle can be completed. 2) if A can not reach
C in a the sequence of A>B>C, then B can not make it either.
Proof of fact 2:
If gas[A] < cost[A], then A can not even reach B.
So to reach C from A, gas[A] must >= cost[A].
Given that A can not reach C, we have gas[A] + gas[B] < cost[A] + cost[B],
and gas[A] >= cost[A],
Therefore, gas[B] < cost[B], i.e., B can not reach C.

In the following solution, sumRemaining tracks the sum of remaining to the current
index. If sumRemaining <0, then every index between old start and current index is
bad, and we need to update start to be the current index.

46.2 Java Solution

public int canCompleteCircuit(int[] gas, int[] cost) {

int sumRemaining = 0; // track current remaining
int total = 0; // track total remaining
int start = 0;

78 | 247 Program Creek

 for (int i = 0; i < gas.length; i++) {
int remaining = gas[i] - cost[i];

//if sum remaining of (i-1) >= 0, continue

if (sumRemaining >= 0) {
sumRemaining += remaining;
//otherwise, reset start index to be current
} else {
sumRemaining = remaining;
start = i;
}
total += remaining;
}

if (total >= 0){

return start;
}else{
return -1;
}
}

47 Pascals Triangle

Given numRows, generate the first numRows of Pascals triangle. For example,
given numRows = 5, the result should be:
[
[1],
[1,1],
[1,2,1],
[1,3,3,1],
[1,4,6,4,1]
]

47.1 Java Solution

public ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> generate(int numRows) {

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();
if (numRows <= 0)
return result;

ArrayList<Integer> pre = new ArrayList<Integer>();

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 pre.add(1);
result.add(pre);

for (int i = 2; i <= numRows; i++) {

ArrayList<Integer> cur = new ArrayList<Integer>();

cur.add(1); //first
for (int j = 0; j < pre.size() - 1; j++) {
cur.add(pre.get(j) + pre.get(j + 1)); //middle
}
cur.add(1);//last

result.add(cur);
pre = cur;
}

return result;
}

48 Pascals Triangle II

Given an index k, return the kth row of the Pascals triangle. For example, when k
= 3, the row is [1,3,3,1].
48.1 Analysis

This problem is related to Pascals Triangle which gets all rows of Pascals triangle. In
this problem, only one row is required to return.

48.2 Java Solution

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public List<Integer> getRow(int rowIndex) {
ArrayList<Integer> result = new ArrayList<Integer>();

if (rowIndex < 0)
return result;

result.add(1);
for (int i = 1; i <= rowIndex; i++) {
for (int j = result.size() - 2; j >= 0; j--) {
result.set(j + 1, result.get(j) + result.get(j + 1));
}
result.add(1);
}
return result;
}

49 Container With Most Water

49.1 Problem

Given n non-negative integers a1, a2, ..., an, where each represents a point at coordi-
nate (i, ai). n vertical lines are drawn such that the two endpoints of line i is at (i, ai)
and (i, 0). Find two lines, which together with x-axis forms a container, such that the
container contains the most water.

49.2 Analysis

Initially we can assume the result is 0. Then we scan from both sides. If leftHeight
<rightHeight, move right and find a value that is greater than leftHeight. Similarily,
if leftHeight >rightHeight, move left and find a value that is greater than rightHeight.
Additionally, keep tracking the max value.

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49.3 Java Solution

public int maxArea(int[] height) {

if (height == null || height.length < 2) {
return 0;
}

int max = 0;
int left = 0;
int right = height.length - 1;

while (left < right) {

max = Math.max(max, (right - left) * Math.min(height[left],
height[right]));
if (height[left] < height[right])
left++;
else
right--;
}

return max;
}

50 Count and Say

50.1 Problem

The count-and-say sequence is the sequence of integers beginning as follows: 1, 11, 21,
1211, 111221, ...
1 is read off as "one 1" or 11.
11 is read off as "two 1s" or 21.
21 is read off as "one 2, then one 1" or 1211.

Given an integer n, generate the nth sequence.

50.2 Java Solution

The problem can be solved by using a simple iteration. See Java solution below:
public String countAndSay(int n) {
if (n <= 0)

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 return null;

String result = "1";

int i = 1;

while (i < n) {
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
int count = 1;
for (int j = 1; j < result.length(); j++) {
if (result.charAt(j) == result.charAt(j - 1)) {
count++;
} else {
sb.append(count);
sb.append(result.charAt(j - 1));
count = 1;
}
}

sb.append(count);
sb.append(result.charAt(result.length() - 1));
result = sb.toString();
i++;
}

return result;
}

51 Search for a Range

Given a sorted array of integers, find the starting and ending position of a given
target value. Your algorithms runtime complexity must be in the order of O(log n). If
the target is not found in the array, return [-1, -1]. For example, given [5, 7, 7, 8, 8, 10]
and target value 8, return [3, 4].
51.1 Java Solution

public int[] searchRange(int[] nums, int target) {

if(nums == null || nums.length == 0){

return null;
}

ArrayList<Integer> result = new ArrayList<Integer>();

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 for(int i=0; i< nums.length; i++){
if(nums[i]==target){
result.add(i);
}
}

int[] arr = new int[2];

if(result.size() == 0){
arr[0]=-1;
arr[1]=-1;
}else{
arr[0] = result.get(0);
arr[1] = result.get(result.size()-1);
}

return arr;
}

52 Kth Largest Element in an Array

Find the kth largest element in an unsorted array. Note that it is the kth largest
element in the sorted order, not the kth distinct element.
For example, given [3,2,1,5,6,4] and k = 2, return 5.
Note: You may assume k is always valid, 1 k arrays length.
52.1 Java Solution 1

public int findKthLargest(int[] nums, int k) {

Arrays.sort(nums);
return nums[nums.length-k];
}

Time is O(nlog(n))

52.2 Java Solution 2

This problem can also be solve by using the quickselect approach, which is similar to
quicksort.
public int findKthLargest(int[] nums, int k) {
if (k < 1 || nums == null) {
return 0;

84 | 247
 }

return getKth(nums.length - k +1, nums, 0, nums.length - 1);

}

public int getKth(int k, int[] nums, int start, int end) {

int pivot = nums[end];

int left = start;

int right = end;

while (true) {

while (nums[left] < pivot && left < right) {

left++;
}

while (nums[right] >= pivot && right > left) {

right--;
}

if (left == right) {
break;
}

swap(nums, left, right);

}

swap(nums, left, end);

if (k == left + 1) {
return pivot;
} else if (k < left + 1) {
return getKth(k, nums, start, left - 1);
} else {
return getKth(k, nums, left + 1, end);
}
}

public void swap(int[] nums, int n1, int n2) {

int tmp = nums[n1];
nums[n1] = nums[n2];
nums[n2] = tmp;
}

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53 Anagrams

Average case time is O(n), worst case time is O(n2). 53 Anagrams

Given an array of strings, return all groups of strings that are anagrams.

53.1 Analysis

An anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or
phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; for
example Torchwood can be rearranged into Doctor Who.
If two strings are anagram to each other, their sorted sequence is the same. There-
fore, this problem can be seen as a problem of finding duplicate elements.

53.2 Java Solution

public List<String> anagrams(String[] strs) {

ArrayList<String> result = new ArrayList<String>();
if(strs == null || strs.length == 0)
return result;

HashMap<String, ArrayList<Integer>> map = new HashMap<String,

ArrayList<Integer>>();
for(int i=0; i<strs.length; i++){
char[] arr = strs[i].toCharArray();
Arrays.sort(arr);
String t = String.valueOf(arr);
if(map.get(t) == null){
ArrayList<Integer> l = new ArrayList<Integer>();
l.add(i);
map.put(t, l);
}else{
map.get(t).add(i);
}
}

for(ArrayList<Integer> l: map.values()){
if(l.size() > 1){
for(Integer i: l){
result.add(strs[i]);
}
}
}

return result;

86 | 247 Program Creek

}

54 First Missing Positive

Given an unsorted integer array, find the first missing positive integer. For example,
given [1,2,0] return 3 and [3,4,-1,1] return 2.
Your algorithm should run in O(n) time and uses constant space.
54.1 Analysis

This problem can solve by using a bucket-sort like algorithm. Lets consider finding
first missing positive and 0 first. The key fact is that the ith element should be i, so we
have: i==A[i] A[i]==A[A[i]]
int firstMissingPositiveAnd0(int A[], int n) {
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
// when the ith element is not i
while (A[i] != i) {
// no need to swap when ith element is out of range [0,n]
if (A[i] < 0 || A[i] >= n)
break;

// swap elements
int temp = A[i];
A[i] = A[temp];
A[temp] = temp;
}
}

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

if (A[i] != i)
return i;
}

return n;
}

54.2 Java Solution

This problem only considers positive numbers, so we need to shift 1 offset. The ith
element is i+1.
int firstMissingPositive(int A[], int n) {

87 | 247
 for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
while (A[i] != i + 1) {
if (A[i] <= 0 || A[i] > n)
break;

int temp = A[i];

A[i] = A[temp - 1];
A[temp - 1] = temp;
}
}
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
if (A[i] != i + 1)
return i + 1;
return n + 1;
}

55 Shortest Palindrome

Given a string S, you are allowed to convert it to a palindrome by adding characters

in front of it. Find and return the shortest palindrome you can find by performing this
transformation.
For example, given "aacecaaa", return "aaacecaaa"; given "abcd", return "dcbabcd".
55.1 Analysis

We can solve this problem by using one of the methods which is used to solve the
longest palindrome substring problem.
Specifically, we can start from the center and scan two sides. If read the left bound-
ary, then the shortest palindrome is identified.

55.2 Java Solution

public String shortestPalindrome(String s) {

if (s == null || s.length() <= 1)
return s;

String result = null;

int len = s.length();

int mid = len / 2;

for (int i = mid; i >= 1; i--) {

88 | 247
 if (s.charAt(i) == s.charAt(i - 1)) {
if ((result = scanFromCenter(s, i - 1, i)) != null)
return result;
} else {
if ((result = scanFromCenter(s, i - 1, i - 1)) != null)
return result;
}
}

return result;
}

private String scanFromCenter(String s, int l, int r) {

int i = 1;

//scan from center to both sides

for (; l - i >= 0; i++) {
if (s.charAt(l - i) != s.charAt(r + i))
break;
}

//if not end at the beginning of s, return null

if (l - i >= 0)
return null;

StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(s.substring(r + i));

sb.reverse();

return sb.append(s).toString();
}

56 Set Matrix Zeroes

Given a m x n matrix, if an element is 0, set its entire row and column to 0. Do it in

place.

56.1 Thoughts about This Problem

This problem can solve by following 4 steps:

check if first row and column are zero or not
mark zeros on first row and column
use mark to set elements

89 | 247
56 Set Matrix Zeroes

set first column and row by using marks in step 1

56.2 Java Solution

public class Solution {

public void setZeroes(int[][] matrix) {
boolean firstRowZero = false;
boolean firstColumnZero = false;

//set first row and column zero or not

for(int i=0; i<matrix.length; i++){
if(matrix[i][0] == 0){
firstColumnZero = true;
break;
}
}

for(int i=0; i<matrix[0].length; i++){

if(matrix[0][i] == 0){
firstRowZero = true;
break;
}
}

//mark zeros on first row and column

for(int i=1; i<matrix.length; i++){
for(int j=1; j<matrix[0].length; j++){
if(matrix[i][j] == 0){
matrix[i][0] = 0;
matrix[0][j] = 0;
}
}
}

//use mark to set elements

for(int i=1; i<matrix.length; i++){
for(int j=1; j<matrix[0].length; j++){
if(matrix[i][0] == 0 || matrix[0][j] == 0){
matrix[i][j] = 0;
}
}
}

//set first column and row

if(firstColumnZero){
for(int i=0; i<matrix.length; i++)
matrix[i][0] = 0;
}

90 | 247 Program Creek

 if(firstRowZero){
for(int i=0; i<matrix[0].length; i++)
matrix[0][i] = 0;
}

}
}

57 Spiral Matrix

Given a matrix of m x n elements (m rows, n columns), return all elements of the

matrix in spiral order.
For example, given the following matrix:
[
[ 1, 2, 3 ],
[ 4, 5, 6 ],
[ 7, 8, 9 ]
]

You should return [1,2,3,6,9,8,7,4,5].

57.1 Java Solution 1

If more than one row and column left, it can form a circle and we process the circle.
Otherwise, if only one row or column left, we process that column or row ONLY.
public class Solution {
public ArrayList<Integer> spiralOrder(int[][] matrix) {
ArrayList<Integer> result = new ArrayList<Integer>();

if(matrix == null || matrix.length == 0) return result;

int m = matrix.length;
int n = matrix[0].length;

int x=0;
int y=0;

while(m>0 && n>0){

//if one row/column left, no circle can be formed

if(m==1){
for(int i=0; i<n; i++){

91 | 247
57 Spiral Matrix

result.add(matrix[x][y++]);
}
break;
}else if(n==1){
for(int i=0; i<m; i++){
result.add(matrix[x++][y]);
}
break;
}

//below, process a circle

//top - move right

for(int i=0;i<n-1;i++){
result.add(matrix[x][y++]);
}

//right - move down

for(int i=0;i<m-1;i++){
result.add(matrix[x++][y]);
}

//bottom - move left

for(int i=0;i<n-1;i++){
result.add(matrix[x][y--]);
}

//left - move up
for(int i=0;i<m-1;i++){
result.add(matrix[x--][y]);
}

x++;
y++;
m=m-2;
n=n-2;
}

return result;
}
}

57.2 Java Solution 2

We can also recursively solve this problem. The solutions performance is not better
than Solution or as clear as Solution 1. Therefore, Solution 1 should be preferred.
public class Solution {

92 | 247 Program Creek

 57 Spiral Matrix

public ArrayList<Integer> spiralOrder(int[][] matrix) {

if(matrix==null || matrix.length==0)
return new ArrayList<Integer>();

return spiralOrder(matrix,0,0,matrix.length,matrix[0].length);
}

public ArrayList<Integer> spiralOrder(int [][] matrix, int x, int y, int

m, int n){
ArrayList<Integer> result = new ArrayList<Integer>();

if(m<=0||n<=0)
return result;

//only one element left

if(m==1&&n==1) {
result.add(matrix[x][y]);
return result;
}

//top - move right

for(int i=0;i<n-1;i++){
result.add(matrix[x][y++]);
}

//right - move down

for(int i=0;i<m-1;i++){
result.add(matrix[x++][y]);
}

//bottom - move left

if(m>1){
for(int i=0;i<n-1;i++){
result.add(matrix[x][y--]);
}
}

//left - move up
if(n>1){
for(int i=0;i<m-1;i++){
result.add(matrix[x--][y]);
}
}

if(m==1||n==1)
result.addAll(spiralOrder(matrix, x, y, 1, 1));
else
result.addAll(spiralOrder(matrix, x+1, y+1, m-2, n-2));

Program Creek 93 | 247

 return result;
}
}

58 Spiral Matrix II

Given an integer n, generate a square matrix filled with elements from 1 to n2 in

spiral order. For example, given n = 4,
[
[1, 2, 3, 4],
[12, 13, 14, 5],
[11, 16, 15, 6],
[10, 9, 8, 7]
]

58.1 Java Solution

public int[][] generateMatrix(int n) {

int total = n*n;
int[][] result= new int[n][n];

int x=0;
int y=0;
int step = 0;

for(int i=0;i<total;){
while(y+step<n){
i++;
result[x][y]=i;
y++;

}
y--;
x++;

while(x+step<n){
i++;
result[x][y]=i;
x++;
}
x--;
y--;

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 while(y>=0+step){
i++;
result[x][y]=i;
y--;
}
y++;
x--;
step++;

while(x>=0+step){
i++;
result[x][y]=i;
x--;
}
x++;
y++;
}

return result;
}

59 Search a 2D Matrix

Write an efficient algorithm that searches for a value in an m x n matrix. This matrix
has properties:
1) Integers in each row are sorted from left to right. 2) The first integer of each row
is greater than the last integer of the previous row.
For example, consider the following matrix:
[
[1, 3, 5, 7],
[10, 11, 16, 20],
[23, 30, 34, 50]
]

Given target = 3, return true.

59.1 Java Solution

This is a typical problem of binary search.

You may try to solve this problem by finding the row first and then the column.
There is no need to do that. Because of the matrixs special features, the matrix can be
considered as a sorted array. Your goal is to find one element in this sorted array by

95 | 247
using binary search.
public class Solution {
public boolean searchMatrix(int[][] matrix, int target) {
if(matrix==null || matrix.length==0 || matrix[0].length==0)
return false;

int m = matrix.length;
int n = matrix[0].length;

int start = 0;
int end = m*n-1;

while(start<=end){
int mid=(start+end)/2;
int midX=mid/n;
int midY=mid%n;

if(matrix[midX][midY]==target)
return true;

if(matrix[midX][midY]<target){
start=mid+1;
}else{
end=mid-1;
}
}

return false;
}
}

60 Rotate Image

You are given an n x n 2D matrix representing an image.

Rotate the image by 90 degrees (clockwise).
Follow up: Could you do this in-place?
60.1 Naive Solution

In the following solution, a new 2-dimension array is created to store the rotated
matrix, and the result is assigned to the matrix at the end. This is WRONG! Why?
public class Solution {
public void rotate(int[][] matrix) {

96 | 247
 60 Rotate Image

if(matrix == null || matrix.length==0)

return ;

int m = matrix.length;

int[][] result = new int[m][m];

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

for(int j=0; j<m; j++){
result[j][m-1-i] = matrix[i][j];
}
}

matrix = result;
}
}

The problem is that Java is pass by value not by refrence! "matrix" is just a reference
to a 2-dimension array. If "matrix" is assigned to a new 2-dimension array in the
method, the original array does not change. Therefore, there should be another loop
to assign each element to the array referenced by "matrix". Check out "Java pass by
value."
public class Solution {
public void rotate(int[][] matrix) {
if(matrix == null || matrix.length==0)
return ;

int m = matrix.length;

int[][] result = new int[m][m];

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

for(int j=0; j<m; j++){
result[j][m-1-i] = matrix[i][j];
}
}

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

for(int j=0; j<m; j++){
matrix[i][j] = result[i][j];
}
}
}
}

Program Creek 97 | 247

60.2 In-place Solution

By using the relation "matrix[i][j] = matrix[n-1-j][i]", we can loop through the matrix.
public void rotate(int[][] matrix) {
int n = matrix.length;
for (int i = 0; i < n / 2; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < Math.ceil(((double) n) / 2.); j++) {
int temp = matrix[i][j];
matrix[i][j] = matrix[n-1-j][i];
matrix[n-1-j][i] = matrix[n-1-i][n-1-j];
matrix[n-1-i][n-1-j] = matrix[j][n-1-i];
matrix[j][n-1-i] = temp;
}
}
}

61 Valid Sudoku

Determine if a Sudoku is valid. The Sudoku board could be partially filled, where
empty cells are filled with the character ..

61.1 Java Solution

public boolean isValidSudoku(char[][] board) {

if (board == null || board.length != 9 || board[0].length != 9)
return false;

98 | 247
 // check each column
for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) {
boolean[] m = new boolean[9];
for (int j = 0; j < 9; j++) {
if (board[i][j] != .) {
if (m[(int) (board[i][j] - 1)]) {
return false;
}
m[(int) (board[i][j] - 1)] = true;
}
}
}

//check each row

for (int j = 0; j < 9; j++) {
boolean[] m = new boolean[9];
for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) {
if (board[i][j] != .) {
if (m[(int) (board[i][j] - 1)]) {
return false;
}
m[(int) (board[i][j] - 1)] = true;
}
}
}

//check each 3*3 matrix

for (int block = 0; block < 9; block++) {
boolean[] m = new boolean[9];
for (int i = block / 3 * 3; i < block / 3 * 3 + 3; i++) {
for (int j = block % 3 * 3; j < block % 3 * 3 + 3; j++) {
if (board[i][j] != .) {
if (m[(int) (board[i][j] - 1)]) {
return false;
}
m[(int) (board[i][j] - 1)] = true;
}
}
}
}

return true;
}

99 | 247
62 Minimum Path Sum

62 Minimum Path Sum

Given a m x n grid filled with non-negative numbers, find a path from top left to
bottom right which minimizes the sum of all numbers along its path.
62.1 Java Solution 1: Depth-First Search

A native solution would be depth-first search. Its time is too expensive and fails the
online judgement.
public int minPathSum(int[][] grid) {
return dfs(0,0,grid);
}

public int dfs(int i, int j, int[][] grid){

if(i==grid.length-1 && j==grid[0].length-1){
return grid[i][j];
}

if(i<grid.length-1 && j<grid[0].length-1){

int r1 = grid[i][j] + dfs(i+1, j, grid);
int r2 = grid[i][j] + dfs(i, j+1, grid);
return Math.min(r1,r2);
}

if(i<grid.length-1){
return grid[i][j] + dfs(i+1, j, grid);
}

if(j<grid[0].length-1){
return grid[i][j] + dfs(i, j+1, grid);
}

return 0;
}

62.2 Java Solution 2: Dynamic Programming

public int minPathSum(int[][] grid) {

if(grid == null || grid.length==0)
return 0;

int m = grid.length;
int n = grid[0].length;

int[][] dp = new int[m][n];

dp[0][0] = grid[0][0];

100 | 247 Program Creek

 // initialize top row
for(int i=1; i<n; i++){
dp[0][i] = dp[0][i-1] + grid[0][i];
}

// initialize left column

for(int j=1; j<m; j++){
dp[j][0] = dp[j-1][0] + grid[j][0];
}

// fill up the dp table

for(int i=1; i<m; i++){
for(int j=1; j<n; j++){
if(dp[i-1][j] > dp[i][j-1]){
dp[i][j] = dp[i][j-1] + grid[i][j];
}else{
dp[i][j] = dp[i-1][j] + grid[i][j];
}
}
}

return dp[m-1][n-1];
}

63 Unique Paths

A robot is located at the top-left corner of a m x n grid. It can only move either down
or right at any point in time. The robot is trying to reach the bottom-right corner of
the grid.
How many possible unique paths are there?
63.1 Java Solution 1 - DFS

A depth-first search solution is pretty straight-forward. However, the time of this

solution is too expensive, and it didnt pass the online judge.
public int uniquePaths(int m, int n) {
return dfs(0,0,m,n);
}

public int dfs(int i, int j, int m, int n){

if(i==m-1 && j==n-1){
return 1;

101 | 247
 }

if(i<m-1 && j<n-1){

return dfs(i+1,j,m,n) + dfs(i,j+1,m,n);
}

if(i<m-1){
return dfs(i+1,j,m,n);
}

if(j<n-1){
return dfs(i,j+1,m,n);
}

return 0;
}

63.2 Java Solution 2 - Dynamic Programming

public int uniquePaths(int m, int n) {

if(m==0 || n==0) return 0;
if(m==1 || n==1) return 1;

int[][] dp = new int[m][n];

//left column
for(int i=0; i<m; i++){
dp[i][0] = 1;
}

//top row
for(int j=0; j<n; j++){
dp[0][j] = 1;
}

//fill up the dp table

for(int i=1; i<m; i++){
for(int j=1; j<n; j++){
dp[i][j] = dp[i-1][j] + dp[i][j-1];
}
}

return dp[m-1][n-1];
}

102 | 247
 64 Unique Paths II

64 Unique Paths II

Follow up for "Unique Paths":

Now consider if some obstacles are added to the grids. How many unique paths
would there be?
An obstacle and empty space is marked as 1 and 0 respectively in the grid. For
example, there is one obstacle in the middle of a 3x3 grid as illustrated below,
[
[0,0,0],
[0,1,0],
[0,0,0]
]

the total number of unique paths is 2.

64.1 Java Solution

public int uniquePathsWithObstacles(int[][] obstacleGrid) {

if(obstacleGrid==null||obstacleGrid.length==0)
return 0;

int m = obstacleGrid.length;
int n = obstacleGrid[0].length;

if(obstacleGrid[0][0]==1||obstacleGrid[m-1][n-1]==1)
return 0;

int[][] dp = new int[m][n];

dp[0][0]=1;

//left column
for(int i=1; i<m; i++){
if(obstacleGrid[i][0]==1){
dp[i][0] = 0;
}else{
dp[i][0] = dp[i-1][0];
}
}

//top row
for(int i=1; i<n; i++){
if(obstacleGrid[0][i]==1){

Program Creek 103 | 247

 dp[0][i] = 0;
}else{
dp[0][i] = dp[0][i-1];
}
}

//fill up cells inside

for(int i=1; i<m; i++){
for(int j=1; j<n; j++){
if(obstacleGrid[i][j]==1){
dp[i][j]=0;
}else{
dp[i][j]=dp[i-1][j]+dp[i][j-1];
}

}
}

return dp[m-1][n-1];
}

65 Number of Islands

Given a 2-d grid map of 1s (land) and 0s (water), count the number of islands. An
island is surrounded by water and is formed by connecting adjacent lands horizontally
or vertically. You may assume all four edges of the grid are all surrounded by water.
Example 1:
11110
11010
11000
00000

Answer: 1
Example 2:
11000
11000
00100
00011

Answer: 3

104 | 247
65.1 Java Solution

The basic idea of the following solution is merging adjacent lands, and the merging
should be done recursively.
public int numIslands(char[][] grid) {
if (grid==null || grid.length==0 || grid[0].length==0) return 0;
int count = 0;

for (int i=0; i<grid.length; i++) {

for (int j=0; j<grid[0].length; j++) {
if(grid[i][j] == 1){
count++;
merge(grid, i, j);
}
}
}
return count;
}

public void merge(char[][] grid, int i, int j){

//validity checking
if(i<0 || j<0 || i>grid.length-1 || j>grid[0].length-1)
return;

//if current cell is water or visited

if(grid[i][j] != 1) return;

//set visited cell to 2

grid[i][j] = 2;

//merge all adjacent land

merge(grid, i-1, j);
merge(grid, i+1, j);
merge(grid, i, j-1);
merge(grid, i, j+1);
}

66 Surrounded Regions

Given a 2D board containing X and O, capture all regions surrounded by X. A

region is captured by flipping all Os into Xs in that surrounded region.
For example,

105 | 247
66 Surrounded Regions

X X X X
X O O X
X X O X
X O X X

After running your function, the board should be:

X X X X
X X X X
X X X X
X O X X

66.1 Analysis

This problem is similar to Number of Islands. In this problem, only the cells on the
boarders can not be surrounded. So we can first merge those Os on the boarders like
in Number of Islands and replace Os with #, and then scan the board and replace all
Os left (if any).

66.2 Depth-first Search

public void solve(char[][] board) {

if(board == null || board.length==0)
return;

int m = board.length;
int n = board[0].length;

//merge Os on left & right boarder

for(int i=0;i<m;i++){
if(board[i][0] == O){
merge(board, i, 0);
}

if(board[i][n-1] == O){
merge(board, i,n-1);
}
}

//merge Os on top & bottom boarder

for(int j=0; j<n; j++){
if(board[0][j] == O){
merge(board, 0,j);
}

if(board[m-1][j] == O){
merge(board, m-1,j);
}

106 | 247 Program Creek

 66 Surrounded Regions

//process the board

for(int i=0;i<m;i++){
for(int j=0; j<n; j++){
if(board[i][j] == O){
board[i][j] = X;
}else if(board[i][j] == #){
board[i][j] = O;
}
}
}
}

public void merge(char[][] board, int i, int j){

if(i<0 || i>=board.length || j<0 || j>=board[0].length)
return;

if(board[i][j] != O)
return;

board[i][j] = #;

merge(board, i-1, j);

merge(board, i+1, j);
merge(board, i, j-1);
merge(board, i, j+1);
}

This solution causes java.lang.StackOverflowError, because for a large board, too

many method calls are pushed to the stack and causes the overflow.

66.3 Breath-first Search

Instead we use a queue to do breath-first search.

public class Solution {
// use a queue to do BFS
private Queue<Integer> queue = new LinkedList<Integer>();

public void solve(char[][] board) {

if (board == null || board.length == 0)
return;

int m = board.length;
int n = board[0].length;

// merge Os on left & right boarder

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

Program Creek 107 | 247

66 Surrounded Regions

if (board[i][0] == O) {
bfs(board, i, 0);
}

if (board[i][n - 1] == O) {
bfs(board, i, n - 1);
}
}

// merge Os on top & bottom boarder

for (int j = 0; j < n; j++) {
if (board[0][j] == O) {
bfs(board, 0, j);
}

if (board[m - 1][j] == O) {
bfs(board, m - 1, j);
}
}

// process the board

for (int i = 0; i < m; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < n; j++) {
if (board[i][j] == O) {
board[i][j] = X;
} else if (board[i][j] == #) {
board[i][j] = O;
}
}
}
}

private void bfs(char[][] board, int i, int j) {

int n = board[0].length;

// fill current first and then its neighbors

fillCell(board, i, j);

while (!queue.isEmpty()) {
int cur = queue.poll();
int x = cur / n;
int y = cur % n;

fillCell(board, x - 1, y);
fillCell(board, x + 1, y);
fillCell(board, x, y - 1);
fillCell(board, x, y + 1);
}
}

108 | 247 Program Creek

 private void fillCell(char[][] board, int i, int j) {
int m = board.length;
int n = board[0].length;
if (i < 0 || i >= m || j < 0 || j >= n || board[i][j] != O)
return;

// add current cell is queue & then process its neighbors in bfs
queue.offer(i * n + j);
board[i][j] = #;
}
}

67 Maximal Rectangle

Given a 2D binary matrix filled with 0s and 1s, find the largest rectangle containing
all ones and return its area.
67.1 Analysis

This problem can be converted to the "Largest Rectangle in Histogram" problem.

67.2 Java Solution

public int maximalRectangle(char[][] matrix) {

int m = matrix.length;
int n = m == 0 ? 0 : matrix[0].length;
int[][] height = new int[m][n + 1];

int maxArea = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < m; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < n; j++) {
if (matrix[i][j] == 0) {
height[i][j] = 0;
} else {
height[i][j] = i == 0 ? 1 : height[i - 1][j] + 1;
}
}
}

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

int area = maxAreaInHist(height[i]);
if (area > maxArea) {
maxArea = area;

109 | 247
 }
}

return maxArea;
}

private int maxAreaInHist(int[] height) {

Stack<Integer> stack = new Stack<Integer>();

int i = 0;
int max = 0;

while (i < height.length) {

if (stack.isEmpty() || height[stack.peek()] <= height[i]) {
stack.push(i++);
} else {
int t = stack.pop();
max = Math.max(max, height[t]
* (stack.isEmpty() ? i : i - stack.peek() - 1));
}
}

return max;
}

68 Add Two Numbers

The problem:
You are given two linked lists representing two non-negative numbers. The digits are
stored in reverse order and each of their nodes contain a single digit. Add the two numbers
and return it as a linked list. Input: (2 ->4 ->3) + (5 ->6 ->4) Output: 7 ->0 ->8

68.1 Thoughts

This is a simple problem. It can be solved by doing the following:

Use a flag to mark if previous sum is >= 10

Handle the situation that one list is longer than the other
Correctly move the 3 pointers p1, p2 and p3 which pointer to two input lists and
one output list

This leads to solution 1.

110 | 247
 68 Add Two Numbers

68.2 Solution 1

// Definition for singly-linked list.

public class ListNode {
int val;
ListNode next;
ListNode(int x) {
val = x;
next = null;
}
}

public class Solution {

public ListNode addTwoNumbers(ListNode l1, ListNode l2) {

ListNode p1 = l1;
ListNode p2 = l2;

ListNode newHead = new ListNode(0);

ListNode p3 = newHead;

int val;//store sum

boolean flag = false;//flag if greater than 10

while(p1 != null || p2 != null){

//both p1 and p2 have value
if(p1 != null && p2 != null){

if(flag){
val = p1.val + p2.val + 1;
}else{
val = p1.val + p2.val;
}

//if sum >= 10

if(val >= 10 ){
flag = true;

//if sum < 10

}else{
flag = false;
}

p3.next = new ListNode(val%10);

p1 = p1.next;
p2 = p2.next;
//p1 is null, because p2 is longer
}else if(p2 != null){

Program Creek 111 | 247

68 Add Two Numbers

if(flag){
val = p2.val + 1;
if(val >= 10){
flag = true;
}else{
flag = false;
}
}else{
val = p2.val;
flag = false;
}

p3.next = new ListNode(val%10);

p2 = p2.next;

////p2 is null, because p1 is longer

}else if(p1 != null){

if(flag){
val = p1.val + 1;
if(val >= 10){
flag = true;
}else{
flag = false;
}
}else{
val = p1.val;
flag = false;
}

p3.next = new ListNode(val%10);

p1 = p1.next;
}

p3 = p3.next;
}

//handle situation that same length final sum >=10

if(p1 == null && p2 == null && flag){
p3.next = new ListNode(1);
}

return newHead.next;
}
}

The hard part is how to make the code more readable. Adding some internal com-
ments and refactoring some code are helpful.

112 | 247 Program Creek

68.3 Solution 2

There is nothing wrong with solution 1, but the code is not readable. We can refactor
the code and make it much shorter and cleaner.
public class Solution {
public ListNode addTwoNumbers(ListNode l1, ListNode l2) {
int carry =0;

ListNode newHead = new ListNode(0);

ListNode p1 = l1, p2 = l2, p3=newHead;

while(p1 != null || p2 != null){

if(p1 != null){
carry += p1.val;
p1 = p1.next;
}

if(p2 != null){
carry += p2.val;
p2 = p2.next;
}

p3.next = new ListNode(carry%10);

p3 = p3.next;
carry /= 10;
}

if(carry==1)
p3.next=new ListNode(1);

return newHead.next;
}
}

Exactly the same thing!

68.4 Quesion

What is the digits are stored in regular order instead of reversed order?

113 | 247
69 Reorder List

Answer: We can simple reverse the list, calculate the result, and reverse the result.

69 Reorder List

Given a singly linked list L: L0L1 ... Ln-1Ln, reorder it to: L0LnL1Ln-
1L2Ln-2...
For example, given 1,2,3,4, reorder it to 1,4,2,3. You must do this in-place without
altering the nodes values.

69.1 Analysis

This problem is not straightforward, because it requires "in-place" operations. That

means we can only change their pointers, not creating a new list.

69.2 Java Solution

This problem can be solved by doing the following:

Break list in the middle to two lists (use fast & slow pointers)
Reverse the order of the second list
Merge two list back together

The following code is a complete runnable class with testing.

//Class definition of ListNode
class ListNode {
int val;
ListNode next;

ListNode(int x) {
val = x;
next = null;
}
}

public class ReorderList {

public static void main(String[] args) {

ListNode n1 = new ListNode(1);
ListNode n2 = new ListNode(2);
ListNode n3 = new ListNode(3);
ListNode n4 = new ListNode(4);
n1.next = n2;
n2.next = n3;

114 | 247 Program Creek

 69 Reorder List

n3.next = n4;

printList(n1);

reorderList(n1);

printList(n1);
}

public static void reorderList(ListNode head) {

if (head != null && head.next != null) {

ListNode slow = head;

ListNode fast = head;

//use a fast and slow pointer to break the link to two parts.
while (fast != null && fast.next != null && fast.next.next!= null) {
//why need third/second condition?
System.out.println("pre "+slow.val + " " + fast.val);
slow = slow.next;
fast = fast.next.next;
System.out.println("after " + slow.val + " " + fast.val);
}

ListNode second = slow.next;

slow.next = null;// need to close first part

// now should have two lists: head and fast

// reverse order for second part

second = reverseOrder(second);

ListNode p1 = head;
ListNode p2 = second;

//merge two lists here

while (p2 != null) {
ListNode temp1 = p1.next;
ListNode temp2 = p2.next;

p1.next = p2;
p2.next = temp1;

p1 = temp1;
p2 = temp2;
}
}
}

Program Creek 115 | 247

69 Reorder List

public static ListNode reverseOrder(ListNode head) {

if (head == null || head.next == null) {

return head;
}

ListNode pre = head;

ListNode curr = head.next;

while (curr != null) {

ListNode temp = curr.next;
curr.next = pre;
pre = curr;
curr = temp;
}

// set head nodes next

head.next = null;

return pre;
}

public static void printList(ListNode n) {

System.out.println("------");
while (n != null) {
System.out.print(n.val);
n = n.next;
}
System.out.println();
}
}

69.3 Takeaway Messages

The three steps can be used to solve other problems of linked list. A little diagram
may help better understand them.

Reverse List:

116 | 247 Program Creek

Merge List:

117 | 247
70 Linked List Cycle

70 Linked List Cycle

Given a linked list, determine if it has a cycle in it.

70.1 Analysis

If we have 2 pointers - fast and slow. It is guaranteed that the fast one will meet the
slow one if there exists a circle.

118 | 247 Program Creek

70.2 Java Solution

public class Solution {

public boolean hasCycle(ListNode head) {
ListNode fast = head;
ListNode slow = head;

if(head == null)
return false;

if(head.next == null)
return false;

while(fast != null && fast.next != null){

slow = slow.next;
fast = fast.next.next;

if(slow == fast)
return true;
}

return false;
}
}

71 Copy List with Random Pointer

A linked list is given such that each node contains an additional random pointer
which could point to any node in the list or null.
Return a deep copy of the list.

119 | 247
71 Copy List with Random Pointer

71.1 Java Solution 1

We can solve this problem by doing the following steps:

copy every node, i.e., duplicate every node, and insert it to the list
copy random pointers for all newly created nodes
break the list to two

public RandomListNode copyRandomList(RandomListNode head) {

if (head == null)
return null;

RandomListNode p = head;

// copy every node and insert to list

while (p != null) {
RandomListNode copy = new RandomListNode(p.label);
copy.next = p.next;
p.next = copy;
p = copy.next;
}

// copy random pointer for each new node

p = head;
while (p != null) {
if (p.random != null)
p.next.random = p.random.next;
p = p.next.next;
}

// break list to two

p = head;
RandomListNode newHead = head.next;
while (p != null) {
RandomListNode temp = p.next;
p.next = temp.next;
if (temp.next != null)
temp.next = temp.next.next;
p = p.next;
}

return newHead;
}

The break list part above move pointer 2 steps each time, you can also move one at
a time which is simpler, like the following:
while(p != null && p.next != null){

120 | 247 Program Creek

 RandomListNode temp = p.next;
p.next = temp.next;
p = temp;
}

71.2 Java Solution 2 - Using HashMap

From Xiaomengs comment below, we can use a HashMap which makes it simpler.
public RandomListNode copyRandomList(RandomListNode head) {
if (head == null)
return null;
HashMap<RandomListNode, RandomListNode> map = new HashMap<RandomListNode,
RandomListNode>();
RandomListNode newHead = new RandomListNode(head.label);

RandomListNode p = head;
RandomListNode q = newHead;
map.put(head, newHead);

p = p.next;
while (p != null) {
RandomListNode temp = new RandomListNode(p.label);
map.put(p, temp);
q.next = temp;
q = temp;
p = p.next;
}

p = head;
q = newHead;
while (p != null) {
if (p.random != null)
q.random = map.get(p.random);
else
q.random = null;

p = p.next;
q = q.next;
}

return newHead;
}

121 | 247
72 Merge Two Sorted Lists

72 Merge Two Sorted Lists

Merge two sorted linked lists and return it as a new list. The new list should be
made by splicing together the nodes of the first two lists.
72.1 Analysis

The key to solve the problem is defining a fake head. Then compare the first elements
from each list. Add the smaller one to the merged list. Finally, when one of them is
empty, simply append it to the merged list, since it is already sorted.

72.2 Java Solution

/**
* Definition for singly-linked list.
* public class ListNode {
* int val;
* ListNode next;
* ListNode(int x) {
* val = x;
* next = null;
* }
* }
*/
public class Solution {
public ListNode mergeTwoLists(ListNode l1, ListNode l2) {

ListNode p1 = l1;
ListNode p2 = l2;

ListNode fakeHead = new ListNode(0);

ListNode p = fakeHead;

while(p1 != null && p2 != null){

if(p1.val <= p2.val){
p.next = p1;
p1 = p1.next;
}else{
p.next = p2;
p2 = p2.next;
}

p = p.next;
}

if(p1 != null)
p.next = p1;

122 | 247 Program Creek

 if(p2 != null)
p.next = p2;

return fakeHead.next;
}
}

73 Merge k Sorted Lists

Merge k sorted linked lists and return it as one sorted list. Analyze and describe its
complexity.
73.1 Analysis

The simplest solution is using PriorityQueue. The elements of the priority queue
are ordered according to their natural ordering, or by a comparator provided at the
construction time (in this case).

73.2 Java Solution

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Comparator;
import java.util.PriorityQueue;

// Definition for singly-linked list.

class ListNode {
int val;
ListNode next;

ListNode(int x) {
val = x;
next = null;
}
}

public class Solution {

public ListNode mergeKLists(ArrayList<ListNode> lists) {
if (lists.size() == 0)
return null;

//PriorityQueue is a sorted queue

PriorityQueue<ListNode> q = new PriorityQueue<ListNode>(lists.size(),
new Comparator<ListNode>() {

123 | 247
 public int compare(ListNode a, ListNode b) {
if (a.val > b.val)
return 1;
else if(a.val == b.val)
return 0;
else
return -1;
}
});

//add first node of each list to the queue

for (ListNode list : lists) {
if (list != null)
q.add(list);
}

ListNode head = new ListNode(0);

ListNode p = head; // serve as a pointer/cursor

while (q.size() > 0) {

ListNode temp = q.poll();
//poll() retrieves and removes the head of the queue - q.
p.next = temp;

//keep adding next element of each list

if (temp.next != null)
q.add(temp.next);

p = p.next;
}

return head.next;
}
}

Time: log(k) * n. k is number of list and n is number of total elements.

74 Remove Duplicates from Sorted

List

Given a sorted linked list, delete all duplicates such that each element appear only
once.
For example,

124 | 247
 74 Remove Duplicates from Sorted List

Given 1->1->2, return 1->2.

Given 1->1->2->3->3, return 1->2->3.

74.1 Thoughts

The key of this problem is using the right loop condition. And change what is nec-
essary in each loop. You can use different iteration conditions like the following 2
solutions.

74.2 Solution 1

/**
* Definition for singly-linked list.
* public class ListNode {
* int val;
* ListNode next;
* ListNode(int x) {
* val = x;
* next = null;
* }
* }
*/
public class Solution {
public ListNode deleteDuplicates(ListNode head) {
if(head == null || head.next == null)
return head;

ListNode prev = head;

ListNode p = head.next;

while(p != null){
if(p.val == prev.val){
prev.next = p.next;
p = p.next;
//no change prev
}else{
prev = p;
p = p.next;
}
}

return head;
}
}

Program Creek 125 | 247

74.3 Solution 2

public class Solution {

public ListNode deleteDuplicates(ListNode head) {
if(head == null || head.next == null)
return head;

ListNode p = head;

while( p!= null && p.next != null){

if(p.val == p.next.val){
p.next = p.next.next;
}else{
p = p.next;
}
}

return head;
}
}

75 Partition List

Given a linked list and a value x, partition it such that all nodes less than x come
before nodes greater than or equal to x.
You should preserve the original relative order of the nodes in each of the two
partitions.
For example, Given 1->4->3->2->5->2 and x = 3, return 1->2->2->4->3->5.
75.1 Naive Solution (Wrong)

The following is a solution I write at the beginning. It contains a trivial problem, but
it took me a long time to fix it.
/**
* Definition for singly-linked list.
* public class ListNode {
* int val;
* ListNode next;
* ListNode(int x) {
* val = x;
* next = null;
* }
* }

126 | 247
 75 Partition List

*/
public class Solution {
public ListNode partition(ListNode head, int x) {
if(head == null) return null;

ListNode fakeHead1 = new ListNode(0);

ListNode fakeHead2 = new ListNode(0);
fakeHead1.next = head;

ListNode p = head;
ListNode prev = fakeHead1;
ListNode p2 = fakeHead2;

while(p != null){
if(p.val < 3){
p = p.next;
prev = prev.next;
}else{
prev.next = p.next;
p2.next = p;
p = prev.next;
p2 = p2.next;
}
}

p.next = fakeHead2.next;
return fakeHead1.next;
}
}

75.2 Correct Solution

The problem of the first solution is that the last nodes next element should be set to
null.
public class Solution {
public ListNode partition(ListNode head, int x) {
if(head == null) return null;

ListNode fakeHead1 = new ListNode(0);

ListNode fakeHead2 = new ListNode(0);
fakeHead1.next = head;

ListNode p = head;
ListNode prev = fakeHead1;
ListNode p2 = fakeHead2;

while(p != null){

Program Creek 127 | 247

 if(p.val < x){
p = p.next;
prev = prev.next;
}else{

p2.next = p;
prev.next = p.next;

p = prev.next;
p2 = p2.next;
}
}

// close the list

p2.next = null;

prev.next = fakeHead2.next;

return fakeHead1.next;
}
}

76 LRU Cache

76.1 Problem

Design and implement a data structure for Least Recently Used (LRU) cache. It should
support the following operations: get and set.
get(key) - Get the value (will always be positive) of the key if the key exists in the
cache, otherwise return -1. set(key, value) - Set or insert the value if the key is not
already present. When the cache reached its capacity, it should invalidate the least
recently used item before inserting a new item.

76.2 Java Solution

The key to solve this problem is using a double linked list which enables us to quickly
move nodes.

128 | 247
 76 LRU Cache

import java.util.HashMap;

public class LRUCache {

private HashMap<Integer, DoubleLinkedListNode> map
= new HashMap<Integer, DoubleLinkedListNode>();
private DoubleLinkedListNode head;
private DoubleLinkedListNode end;
private int capacity;
private int len;

public LRUCache(int capacity) {

this.capacity = capacity;
len = 0;
}

public int get(int key) {

if (map.containsKey(key)) {
DoubleLinkedListNode latest = map.get(key);
removeNode(latest);
setHead(latest);
return latest.val;
} else {
return -1;
}
}

public void removeNode(DoubleLinkedListNode node) {

DoubleLinkedListNode cur = node;
DoubleLinkedListNode pre = cur.pre;
DoubleLinkedListNode post = cur.next;

if (pre != null) {
pre.next = post;
} else {
head = post;
}

Program Creek 129 | 247

76 LRU Cache

if (post != null) {
post.pre = pre;
} else {
end = pre;
}
}

public void setHead(DoubleLinkedListNode node) {

node.next = head;
node.pre = null;
if (head != null) {
head.pre = node;
}

head = node;
if (end == null) {
end = node;
}
}

public void set(int key, int value) {

if (map.containsKey(key)) {
DoubleLinkedListNode oldNode = map.get(key);
oldNode.val = value;
removeNode(oldNode);
setHead(oldNode);
} else {
DoubleLinkedListNode newNode =
new DoubleLinkedListNode(key, value);
if (len < capacity) {
setHead(newNode);
map.put(key, newNode);
len++;
} else {
map.remove(end.key);
end = end.pre;
if (end != null) {
end.next = null;
}

setHead(newNode);
map.put(key, newNode);
}
}
}
}

class DoubleLinkedListNode {
public int val;

130 | 247 Program Creek

 public int key;
public DoubleLinkedListNode pre;
public DoubleLinkedListNode next;

public DoubleLinkedListNode(int key, int value) {

val = value;
this.key = key;
}
}

77 Intersection of Two Linked Lists

77.1 Problem

Write a program to find the node at which the intersection of two singly linked lists
begins.
For example, the following two linked lists:
A: a1 -> a2
->
c1 -> c2 -> c3
->
B: b1 -> b2 -> b3

begin to intersect at node c1.

77.2 Java Solution

First calculate the length of two lists and find the difference. Then start from the longer
list at the diff offset, iterate though 2 lists and find the node.
/**
* Definition for singly-linked list.
* public class ListNode {
* int val;
* ListNode next;
* ListNode(int x) {
* val = x;
* next = null;
* }
* }
*/
public class Solution {

131 | 247
 public ListNode getIntersectionNode(ListNode headA, ListNode headB) {
int len1 = 0;
int len2 = 0;
ListNode p1=headA, p2=headB;
if (p1 == null || p2 == null)
return null;

while(p1 != null){
len1++;
p1 = p1.next;
}
while(p2 !=null){
len2++;
p2 = p2.next;
}

int diff = 0;
p1=headA;
p2=headB;

if(len1 > len2){

diff = len1-len2;
int i=0;
while(i<diff){
p1 = p1.next;
i++;
}
}else{
diff = len2-len1;
int i=0;
while(i<diff){
p2 = p2.next;
i++;
}
}

while(p1 != null && p2 != null){

if(p1.val == p2.val){
return p1;
}else{

}
p1 = p1.next;
p2 = p2.next;
}

return null;
}
}

132 | 247
78 Remove Linked List Elements

Remove all elements from a linked list of integers that have value val.
Example
Given: 1 --> 2 --> 6 --> 3 --> 4 --> 5 --> 6, val = 6
Return: 1 --> 2 --> 3 --> 4 --> 5

78.1 Java Solution

The key to solve this problem is using a helper node to track the head of the list.
public ListNode removeElements(ListNode head, int val) {
ListNode helper = new ListNode(0);
helper.next = head;
ListNode p = helper;

while(p.next != null){
if(p.next.val == val){
ListNode next = p.next;
p.next = next.next;
}else{
p = p.next;
}
}

return helper.next;
}

79 Swap Nodes in Pairs

Given a linked list, swap every two adjacent nodes and return its head.
For example, given 1->2->3->4, you should return the list as 2->1->4->3.
Your algorithm should use only constant space. You may not modify the values in
the list, only nodes itself can be changed.
79.1 Java Solution

Use two template variable to track the previous and next node of each pair.

133 | 247
public ListNode swapPairs(ListNode head) {
if(head == null || head.next == null)
return head;

ListNode h = new ListNode(0);

h.next = head;
ListNode p = h;

while(p.next != null && p.next.next != null){

//use t1 to track first node
ListNode t1 = p;
p = p.next;
t1.next = p.next;

//use t2 to track next node of the pair

ListNode t2 = p.next.next;
p.next.next = p;
p.next = t2;
}

return h.next;
}

80 Reverse Linked List

Reverse a singly linked list.

80.1 Java Solution 1 - Iterative

public ListNode reverseList(ListNode head) {

if(head==null || head.next == null)
return head;

ListNode p1 = head;
ListNode p2 = head.next;

head.next = null;
while(p1!= null && p2!= null){
ListNode t = p2.next;
p2.next = p1;
p1 = p2;
if (t!=null){
p2 = t;

134 | 247
 }else{
break;
}
}

return p2;
}

80.2 Java Solution 2 - Recursive

public ListNode reverseList(ListNode head) {

if(head==null || head.next == null)
return head;

//get second node

ListNode second = head.next;
//set firsts next to be null
head.next = null;

ListNode rest = reverseList(second);

second.next = head;

return rest;
}

81 Remove Nth Node From End of List

Given a linked list, remove the nth node from the end of list and return its head.
For example, given linked list 1->2->3->4->5 and n = 2, the result is 1->2->3->5.
81.1 Java Solution 1 - Naive Two Passes

Calculate the length first, and then remove the nth from the beginning.
public ListNode removeNthFromEnd(ListNode head, int n) {
if(head == null)
return null;

//get length of list

ListNode p = head;
int len = 0;
while(p != null){

135 | 247
81 Remove Nth Node From End of List

len++;
p = p.next;
}

//if remove first node

int fromStart = len-n+1;
if(fromStart==1)
return head.next;

//remove non-first node

p = head;
int i=0;
while(p!=null){
i++;
if(i==fromStart-1){
p.next = p.next.next;
}
p=p.next;
}

return head;
}

81.2 Java Solution 2 - One Pass

Use fast and slow pointers. The fast pointer is n steps ahead of the slow pointer. When
the fast reaches the end, the slow pointer points at the previous element of the target
element.
public ListNode removeNthFromEnd(ListNode head, int n) {
if(head == null)
return null;

ListNode fast = head;

ListNode slow = head;

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

fast = fast.next;
}

//if remove the first node

if(fast == null){
head = head.next;
return head;
}

while(fast.next != null){
fast = fast.next;

136 | 247 Program Creek

 slow = slow.next;
}

slow.next = slow.next.next;

return head;
}

82 Java PriorityQueue Class Example

In Java, the PriorityQueue class is implemented as a priority heap. Heap is an

important data structure in computer science. For a quick overview of heap, here is a
very good tutorial.
82.1 Simple Example

The following examples shows the basic operations of PriorityQueue such as offer(),
peek(), poll(), and size().
import java.util.Comparator;
import java.util.PriorityQueue;

public class PriorityQueueTest {

static class PQsort implements Comparator<Integer> {

public int compare(Integer one, Integer two) {

return two - one;
}
}

public static void main(String[] args) {

int[] ia = { 1, 10, 5, 3, 4, 7, 6, 9, 8 };
PriorityQueue<Integer> pq1 = new PriorityQueue<Integer>();

// use offer() method to add elements to the PriorityQueue pq1

for (int x : ia) {
pq1.offer(x);
}

System.out.println("pq1: " + pq1);

PQsort pqs = new PQsort();

PriorityQueue<Integer> pq2 = new PriorityQueue<Integer>(10, pqs);
// In this particular case, we can simply use Collections.reverseOrder()

137 | 247
 // instead of self-defined comparator
for (int x : ia) {
pq2.offer(x);
}

System.out.println("pq2: " + pq2);

// print size
System.out.println("size: " + pq2.size());
// return highest priority element in the queue without removing it
System.out.println("peek: " + pq2.peek());
// print size
System.out.println("size: " + pq2.size());
// return highest priority element and removes it from the queue
System.out.println("poll: " + pq2.poll());
// print size
System.out.println("size: " + pq2.size());

System.out.print("pq2: " + pq2);

}
}

Output:
pq1: [1, 3, 5, 8, 4, 7, 6, 10, 9]
pq2: [10, 9, 7, 8, 3, 5, 6, 1, 4]
size: 9
peek: 10
size: 9
poll: 10
size: 8
pq2: [9, 8, 7, 4, 3, 5, 6, 1]

82.2 Example of Solving Problems Using PriorityQueue

Merging k sorted list.

138 | 247
 83 Solution for Binary Tree Preorder Traversal in Java

For more details about PriorityQueue, please go to doc.

83 Solution for Binary Tree Preorder

Traversal in Java

Preorder binary tree traversal is a classic interview problem about trees. The key to
solve this problem is to understand the following:

What is preorder? (parent node is processed before its children)

Use Stack from Java Core library

It is not obvious what preorder for some strange cases. However, if you draw a
stack and manually execute the program, how each element is pushed and popped is
obvious.
The key to solve this problem is using a stack to store left and right children, and
push right child first so that it is processed after the left child.
public class TreeNode {
int val;
TreeNode left;
TreeNode right;
TreeNode(int x) { val = x; }
}

public class Solution {

public ArrayList<Integer> preorderTraversal(TreeNode root) {
ArrayList<Integer> returnList = new ArrayList<Integer>();

if(root == null)
return returnList;

Stack<TreeNode> stack = new Stack<TreeNode>();

stack.push(root);

while(!stack.empty()){
TreeNode n = stack.pop();
returnList.add(n.val);

if(n.right != null){
stack.push(n.right);
}
if(n.left != null){
stack.push(n.left);
}

Program Creek 139 | 247

 }
return returnList;
}
}

84 Solution of Binary Tree Inorder

Traversal in Java

The key to solve inorder traversal of binary tree includes the following:
The order of "inorder" is: left child ->parent ->right child
Use a stack to track nodes
Understand when to push node into the stack and when to pop node out of the
stack

//Definition for binary tree

public class TreeNode {
int val;
TreeNode left;
TreeNode right;
TreeNode(int x) { val = x; }
}

public class Solution {

public ArrayList<Integer> inorderTraversal(TreeNode root) {
// IMPORTANT: Please reset any member data you declared, as

140 | 247
 // the same Solution instance will be reused for each test case.
ArrayList<Integer> lst = new ArrayList<Integer>();

if(root == null)
return lst;

Stack<TreeNode> stack = new Stack<TreeNode>();

//define a pointer to track nodes
TreeNode p = root;

while(!stack.empty() || p != null){

// if it is not null, push to stack

//and go down the tree to left
if(p != null){
stack.push(p);
p = p.left;

// if no left child
// pop stack, process the node
// then let p point to the right
}else{
TreeNode t = stack.pop();
lst.add(t.val);
p = t.right;
}
}

return lst;
}
}

85 Solution of Iterative Binary Tree

Postorder Traversal in Java

The key to to iterative postorder traversal is the following:

The order of "Postorder" is: left child ->right child ->parent node.
Find the relation between the previously visited node and the current node
Use a stack to track nodes

As we go down the tree, check the previously visited node. If it is the parent of
the current node, we should add current node to stack. When there is no children

141 | 247
85 Solution of Iterative Binary Tree Postorder Traversal in Java

for current node, pop it from stack. Then the previous node become to be under the
current node for next loop.
//Definition for binary tree
public class TreeNode {
int val;
TreeNode left;
TreeNode right;
TreeNode(int x) { val = x; }
}

public class Solution {

public ArrayList<Integer> postorderTraversal(TreeNode root) {

ArrayList<Integer> lst = new ArrayList<Integer>();

if(root == null)
return lst;

Stack<TreeNode> stack = new Stack<TreeNode>();

stack.push(root);

TreeNode prev = null;

while(!stack.empty()){
TreeNode curr = stack.peek();

// go down the tree.

//check if current node is leaf, if so, process it and pop stack,
//otherwise, keep going down
if(prev == null || prev.left == curr || prev.right == curr){
//prev == null is the situation for the root node
if(curr.left != null){
stack.push(curr.left);
}else if(curr.right != null){
stack.push(curr.right);
}else{
stack.pop();
lst.add(curr.val);
}

//go up the tree from left node

//need to check if there is a right child
//if yes, push it to stack
//otherwise, process parent and pop stack
}else if(curr.left == prev){
if(curr.right != null){
stack.push(curr.right);
}else{
stack.pop();

142 | 247 Program Creek

 lst.add(curr.val);
}

//go up the tree from right node

//after coming back from right node, process parent node and pop
stack.
}else if(curr.right == prev){
stack.pop();
lst.add(curr.val);
}

prev = curr;
}

return lst;
}
}

86 Binary Tree Level Order Traversal

Given a binary tree, return the level order traversal of its nodes values. (ie, from left
to right, level by level).
For example: Given binary tree 3,9,20,#,#,15,7,
3
/ \
9 20
/ \
15 7

return its level order traversal as [[3], [9,20], [15,7]]

86.1 Analysis

It is obvious that this problem can be solve by using a queue. However, if we use one
queue we can not track when each level starts. So we use two queues to track the
current level and the next level.

86.2 Java Solution

public ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> levelOrder(TreeNode root) {

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> al = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();
ArrayList<Integer> nodeValues = new ArrayList<Integer>();

143 | 247
 if(root == null)
return al;

LinkedList<TreeNode> current = new LinkedList<TreeNode>();

LinkedList<TreeNode> next = new LinkedList<TreeNode>();
current.add(root);

while(!current.isEmpty()){
TreeNode node = current.remove();

if(node.left != null)
next.add(node.left);
if(node.right != null)
next.add(node.right);

nodeValues.add(node.val);
if(current.isEmpty()){
current = next;
next = new LinkedList<TreeNode>();
al.add(nodeValues);
nodeValues = new ArrayList();
}

}
return al;
}

87 Binary Tree Level Order Traversal II

Given a binary tree, return the bottom-up level order traversal of its nodes values.
For example, given binary tree 3,9,20,#,#,15,7,
3
/ \
9 20
/ \
15 7

return its level order traversal as [[15,7], [9,20],[3]]

87.1 Java Solution

public List<ArrayList<Integer>> levelOrderBottom(TreeNode root) {

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();

144 | 247
 if(root == null){
return result;
}

LinkedList<TreeNode> current = new LinkedList<TreeNode>();

LinkedList<TreeNode> next = new LinkedList<TreeNode>();
current.offer(root);

ArrayList<Integer> numberList = new ArrayList<Integer>();

// need to track when each level starts

while(!current.isEmpty()){
TreeNode head = current.poll();

numberList.add(head.val);

if(head.left != null){
next.offer(head.left);
}
if(head.right!= null){
next.offer(head.right);
}

if(current.isEmpty()){
current = next;
next = new LinkedList<TreeNode>();
result.add(numberList);
numberList = new ArrayList<Integer>();
}
}

//return Collections.reverse(result);
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> reversedResult = new
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();
for(int i=result.size()-1; i>=0; i--){
reversedResult.add(result.get(i));
}

return reversedResult;
}

145 | 247
88 Validate Binary Search Tree

88 Validate Binary Search Tree

Problem:
Given a binary tree, determine if it is a valid binary search tree (BST).
Assume a BST is defined as follows:

The left subtree of a node contains only nodes with keys less than the nodes key.
The right subtree of a node contains only nodes with keys greater than the nodes
key.
Both the left and right subtrees must also be binary search trees.

88.1 Thoughts about This Problem

All values on the left sub tree must be less than root, and all values on the right sub
tree must be greater than root.

88.2 Java Solution

// Definition for binary tree

class TreeNode {
int val;
TreeNode left;
TreeNode right;

TreeNode(int x) {
val = x;
}
}

public class Solution {

public static boolean isValidBST(TreeNode root) {

return validate(root, Integer.MIN_VALUE, Integer.MAX_VALUE);
}

public static boolean validate(TreeNode root, int min, int max) {

if (root == null) {
return true;
}

// not in range
if (root.val <= min || root.val >= max) {
return false;
}

146 | 247 Program Creek

 // left subtree must be < root.val && right subtree must be > root.val
return validate(root.left, min, root.val) && validate(root.right,
root.val, max);
}
}

89 Flatten Binary Tree to Linked List

Given a binary tree, flatten it to a linked list in-place.

For example, Given
1
/ \
2 5
/ \ \
3 4 6

The flattened tree should look like:

1
\
2
\
3
\
4
\
5
\
6

89.1 Thoughts

Go down through the left, when right is not null, push right to stack.

89.2 Java Solution

/**
* Definition for binary tree
* public class TreeNode {
* int val;
* TreeNode left;

147 | 247
 * TreeNode right;
* TreeNode(int x) { val = x; }
* }
*/
public class Solution {
public void flatten(TreeNode root) {
Stack<TreeNode> stack = new Stack<TreeNode>();
TreeNode p = root;

while(p != null || !stack.empty()){

if(p.right != null){
stack.push(p.right);
}

if(p.left != null){
p.right = p.left;
p.left = null;
}else if(!stack.empty()){
TreeNode temp = stack.pop();
p.right=temp;
}

p = p.right;
}
}
}

90 Path Sum

Given a binary tree and a sum, determine if the tree has a root-to-leaf path such that
adding up all the values along the path equals the given sum.
For example: Given the below binary tree and sum = 22,
5
/ \
4 8
/ / \
11 13 4
/ \ \
7 2 1

return true, as there exist a root-to-leaf path 5->4->11->2 which sum is 22.

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 90 Path Sum

90.1 Java Solution 1 - Using Queue

Add all node to a queue and store sum value of each node to another queue. When it
is a leaf node, check the stored sum value.
For the tree above, the queue would be: 5 - 4 - 8 - 11 - 13 - 4 - 7 - 2 - 1. It will check
node 13, 7, 2 and 1. This is a typical breadth first search(BFS) problem.
/**
* Definition for binary tree
* public class TreeNode {
* int val;
* TreeNode left;
* TreeNode right;
* TreeNode(int x) { val = x; }
* }
*/
public class Solution {
public boolean hasPathSum(TreeNode root, int sum) {
if(root == null) return false;

LinkedList<TreeNode> nodes = new LinkedList<TreeNode>();

LinkedList<Integer> values = new LinkedList<Integer>();

nodes.add(root);
values.add(root.val);

while(!nodes.isEmpty()){
TreeNode curr = nodes.poll();
int sumValue = values.poll();

if(curr.left == null && curr.right == null && sumValue==sum){

return true;
}

if(curr.left != null){
nodes.add(curr.left);
values.add(sumValue+curr.left.val);
}

if(curr.right != null){
nodes.add(curr.right);
values.add(sumValue+curr.right.val);
}
}

return false;
}
}

Program Creek 149 | 247

90.2 Java Solution 2 - Recursion

public boolean hasPathSum(TreeNode root, int sum) {

if (root == null)
return false;
if (root.val == sum && (root.left == null && root.right == null))
return true;

return hasPathSum(root.left, sum - root.val)

|| hasPathSum(root.right, sum - root.val);
}

Thanks to nebulaliang, this solution is wonderful! 91 Path Sum

II

Given a binary tree and a sum, find all root-to-leaf paths where each paths sum equals
the given sum.
For example, given the below binary tree and sum = 22,
5
/ \
4 8
/ / \
11 13 4
/ \ / \
7 2 5 1

the method returns the following:

[
[5,4,11,2],
[5,8,4,5]
]

91.1 Analysis

This problem can be converted to be a typical depth-first search problem. A recursive

depth-first search algorithm usually requires a recursive method call, a reference to
the final result, a temporary result, etc.

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91.2 Java Solution

public List<ArrayList<Integer>> pathSum(TreeNode root, int sum) {

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();
if(root == null)
return result;

ArrayList<Integer> l = new ArrayList<Integer>();

l.add(root.val);
dfs(root, sum-root.val, result, l);
return result;
}

public void dfs(TreeNode t, int sum, ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result,

ArrayList<Integer> l){
if(t.left==null && t.right==null && sum==0){
ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>();
temp.addAll(l);
result.add(temp);
}

//search path of left node

if(t.left != null){
l.add(t.left.val);
dfs(t.left, sum-t.left.val, result, l);
l.remove(l.size()-1);
}

//search path of right node

if(t.right!=null){
l.add(t.right.val);
dfs(t.right, sum-t.right.val, result, l);
l.remove(l.size()-1);
}
}

92 Construct Binary Tree from Inorder

and Postorder Traversal

Given inorder and postorder traversal of a tree, construct the binary tree.

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92 Construct Binary Tree from Inorder and Postorder Traversal

92.1 Throughts

This problem can be illustrated by using a simple example.

in-order: 4 2 5 (1) 6 7 3 8
post-order: 4 5 2 6 7 8 3 (1)

From the post-order array, we know that last element is the root. We can find the
root in in-order array. Then we can identify the left and right sub-trees of the root
from in-order array.
Using the length of left sub-tree, we can identify left and right sub-trees in post-order
array. Recursively, we can build up the tree.

92.2 Java Solution

//Definition for binary tree

public class TreeNode {
int val;
TreeNode left;
TreeNode right;
TreeNode(int x) { val = x; }
}

public class Solution {

public TreeNode buildTree(int[] inorder, int[] postorder) {
int inStart = 0;
int inEnd = inorder.length-1;
int postStart =0;
int postEnd = postorder.length-1;

return buildTree(inorder, inStart, inEnd, postorder, postStart,

postEnd);
}

public TreeNode buildTree(int[] inorder, int inStart, int inEnd,

int[] postorder, int postStart, int postEnd){
if(inStart > inEnd || postStart > postEnd)
return null;

int rootValue = postorder[postEnd];

TreeNode root = new TreeNode(rootValue);

int k=0;
for(int i=0; i< inorder.length; i++){
if(inorder[i]==rootValue){
k = i;
break;
}

152 | 247 Program Creek

 }

root.left = buildTree(inorder, inStart, k-1, postorder, postStart,

postStart+k-(inStart+1));
// Becuase k is not the length, it it need to -(inStart+1) to get the
length
root.right = buildTree(inorder, k+1, inEnd, postorder,
postStart+k-inStart, postEnd-1);
// postStart+k-inStart = postStart+k-(inStart+1) +1

return root;
}
}

93 Convert Sorted Array to Binary

Search Tree

Given an array where elements are sorted in ascending order, convert it to a height
balanced BST.
93.1 Thoughts

Straightforward! Recursively do the job.

93.2 Java Solution

// Definition for binary tree

class TreeNode {
int val;
TreeNode left;
TreeNode right;

TreeNode(int x) {
val = x;
}
}

public class Solution {

public TreeNode sortedArrayToBST(int[] num) {
if (num.length == 0)
return null;

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 return sortedArrayToBST(num, 0, num.length - 1);
}

public TreeNode sortedArrayToBST(int[] num, int start, int end) {

if (start > end)
return null;

int mid = (start + end) / 2;

TreeNode root = new TreeNode(num[mid]);
root.left = sortedArrayToBST(num, start, mid - 1);
root.right = sortedArrayToBST(num, mid + 1, end);

return root;
}
}

94 Convert Sorted List to Binary Search

Tree

Given a singly linked list where elements are sorted in ascending order, convert it to
a height balanced BST.
94.1 Thoughts

If you are given an array, the problem is quite straightforward. But things get a little
more complicated when you have a singly linked list instead of an array. Now you no
longer have random access to an element in O(1) time. Therefore, you need to create
nodes bottom-up, and assign them to its parents. The bottom-up approach enables us
to access the list in its order at the same time as creating nodes.

94.2 Java Solution

// Definition for singly-linked list.

class ListNode {
int val;
ListNode next;

ListNode(int x) {
val = x;
next = null;
}

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 94 Convert Sorted List to Binary Search Tree

// Definition for binary tree

class TreeNode {
int val;
TreeNode left;
TreeNode right;

TreeNode(int x) {
val = x;
}
}

public class Solution {

static ListNode h;

public TreeNode sortedListToBST(ListNode head) {

if (head == null)
return null;

h = head;
int len = getLength(head);
return sortedListToBST(0, len - 1);
}

// get list length

public int getLength(ListNode head) {
int len = 0;
ListNode p = head;

while (p != null) {
len++;
p = p.next;
}
return len;
}

// build tree bottom-up

public TreeNode sortedListToBST(int start, int end) {
if (start > end)
return null;

// mid
int mid = (start + end) / 2;

TreeNode left = sortedListToBST(start, mid - 1);

TreeNode root = new TreeNode(h.val);
h = h.next;
TreeNode right = sortedListToBST(mid + 1, end);

Program Creek 155 | 247

 root.left = left;
root.right = right;

return root;
}
}

95 Minimum Depth of Binary Tree

Given a binary tree, find its minimum depth.

The minimum depth is the number of nodes along the shortest path from the root
node down to the nearest leaf node.
95.1 Thoughts

Need to know LinkedList is a queue. add() and remove() are the two methods to
manipulate the queue.

95.2 Java Solution

/**
* Definition for binary tree
* public class TreeNode {
* int val;
* TreeNode left;
* TreeNode right;
* TreeNode(int x) { val = x; }
* }
*/
public class Solution {
public int minDepth(TreeNode root) {
if(root == null){
return 0;
}

LinkedList<TreeNode> nodes = new LinkedList<TreeNode>();

LinkedList<Integer> counts = new LinkedList<Integer>();

nodes.add(root);
counts.add(1);

while(!nodes.isEmpty()){
TreeNode curr = nodes.remove();

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 int count = counts.remove();

if(curr.left != null){
nodes.add(curr.left);
counts.add(count+1);
}

if(curr.right != null){
nodes.add(curr.right);
counts.add(count+1);
}

if(curr.left == null && curr.right == null){

return count;
}
}

return 0;
}
}

96 Binary Tree Maximum Path Sum

Given a binary tree, find the maximum path sum. The path may start and end at
any node in the tree. For example, given the below binary tree
1
/ \
2 3

the result is 6.
96.1 Analysis

1) Recursively solve this problem 2) Get largest left sum and right sum 2) Compare to
the stored maximum

96.2 Java Solution

We can also use an array to store value for recursive methods.

public int maxPathSum(TreeNode root) {
int max[] = new int[1];
max[0] = Integer.MIN_VALUE;

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 calculateSum(root, max);
return max[0];
}

public int calculateSum(TreeNode root, int[] max) {

if (root == null)
return 0;

int left = calculateSum(root.left, max);

int right = calculateSum(root.right, max);

int current = Math.max(root.val, Math.max(root.val + left, root.val +

right));

max[0] = Math.max(max[0], Math.max(current, left + root.val + right));

return current;
}

97 Balanced Binary Tree

Given a binary tree, determine if it is height-balanced.

For this problem, a height-balanced binary tree is defined as a binary tree in which
the depth of the two subtrees of every node never differ by more than 1.
97.1 Thoughts

A typical recursive problem for solving tree problems.

97.2 Java Solution

// Definition for binary tree

class TreeNode {
int val;
TreeNode left;
TreeNode right;

TreeNode(int x) {
val = x;
}
}

public class Solution {

158 | 247
 public boolean isBalanced(TreeNode root) {
if (root == null)
return true;

if (getHeight(root) == -1)
return false;

return true;
}

public int getHeight(TreeNode root) {

if (root == null)
return 0;

int left = getHeight(root.left);

int right = getHeight(root.right);

if (left == -1 || right == -1)

return -1;

if (Math.abs(left - right) > 1) {

return -1;
}

return Math.max(left, right) + 1;

}
}

98 Symmetric Tree

98.1 Problem

Given a binary tree, check whether it is a mirror of itself (ie, symmetric around its
center).
For example, this binary tree is symmetric:
1
/ \
2 2
/ \ / \
3 4 4 3

But the following is not:

159 | 247
1
/ \
2 2
\ \
3 3

98.2 Java Solution - Recursion

This problem can be solve by using a simple recursion. The key is finding the con-
ditions that return false, such as value is not equal, only one node(left or right) has
value.
public boolean isSymmetric(TreeNode root) {
if (root == null)
return true;
return isSymmetric(root.left, root.right);
}

public boolean isSymmetric(TreeNode l, TreeNode r) {

if (l == null && r == null) {
return true;
} else if (r == null || l == null) {
return false;
}

if (l.val != r.val)
return false;

if (!isSymmetric(l.left, r.right))
return false;
if (!isSymmetric(l.right, r.left))
return false;

return true;
}

99 Binary Search Tree Iterator

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 99 Binary Search Tree Iterator

99.1 Problem

Implement an iterator over a binary search tree (BST). Your iterator will be initialized
with the root node of a BST. Calling next() will return the next smallest number in
the BST. Note: next() and hasNext() should run in average O(1) time and uses O(h)
memory, where h is the height of the tree.

99.2 Java Solution

The key to solve this problem is understanding what is BST. Here is a diagram.

/**
* Definition for binary tree
* public class TreeNode {
* int val;
* TreeNode left;
* TreeNode right;
* TreeNode(int x) { val = x; }
* }
*/

public class BSTIterator {

Stack<TreeNode> stack;

public BSTIterator(TreeNode root) {

stack = new Stack<TreeNode>();
while (root != null) {
stack.push(root);
root = root.left;
}
}

public boolean hasNext() {

Program Creek 161 | 247

 return !stack.isEmpty();
}

public int next() {

TreeNode node = stack.pop();
int result = node.val;
if (node.right != null) {
node = node.right;
while (node != null) {
stack.push(node);
node = node.left;
}
}
return result;
}
}

100 Binary Tree Right Side View

Given a binary tree, imagine yourself standing on the right side of it, return the
values of the nodes you can see ordered from top to bottom. For example, given the
following binary tree,
1 <---
/ \
2 3 <---
\
5 <---

You can see [1, 3, 5].

100.1 Analysis

This problem can be solve by using a queue. On each level of the tree, we add the
right-most element to the results.

100.2 Java Solution

public List<Integer> rightSideView(TreeNode root) {

ArrayList<Integer> result = new ArrayList<Integer>();

if(root == null) return result;

162 | 247
 LinkedList<TreeNode> queue = new LinkedList<TreeNode>();
queue.add(root);

while(queue.size() > 0){

//get size here
int size = queue.size();

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

TreeNode top = queue.remove();

//the first element in the queue (right-most of the tree)

if(i==0){
result.add(top.val);
}
//add right first
if(top.right != null){
queue.add(top.right);
}
//add left
if(top.left != null){
queue.add(top.left);
}
}
}

return result;
}

101 Implement Trie (Prefix Tree)

Implement a trie with insert, search, and startsWith methods.

101.1 Analysis

A trie node should contains the character, its children and the flag that marks if it is a
leaf node.

101.2 Java Solution

You can use this diagram to walk though the Java solution.

163 | 247
101 Implement Trie (Prefix Tree)

class TrieNode {
char c;
HashMap<Character, TrieNode> children = new HashMap<Character, TrieNode>();
boolean isLeaf;

public TrieNode() {}

public TrieNode(char c){

this.c = c;
}
}

public class Trie {

private TrieNode root;

public Trie() {
root = new TrieNode();
}

// Inserts a word into the trie.

public void insert(String word) {
HashMap<Character, TrieNode> children = root.children;

for(int i=0; i<word.length(); i++){

char c = word.charAt(i);

TrieNode t;
if(children.containsKey(c)){
t = children.get(c);
}else{
t = new TrieNode(c);
children.put(c, t);
}

164 | 247 Program Creek

 children = t.children;

//set leaf node

if(i==word.length()-1)
t.isLeaf = true;
}
}

// Returns if the word is in the trie.

public boolean search(String word) {
TrieNode t = searchNode(word);

if(t != null && t.isLeaf)

return true;
else
return false;
}

// Returns if there is any word in the trie

// that starts with the given prefix.
public boolean startsWith(String prefix) {
if(searchNode(prefix) == null)
return false;
else
return true;
}

public TrieNode searchNode(String str){

Map<Character, TrieNode> children = root.children;
TrieNode t = null;
for(int i=0; i<str.length(); i++){
char c = str.charAt(i);
if(children.containsKey(c)){
t = children.get(c);
children = t.children;
}else{
return null;
}
}

return t;
}
}

165 | 247
102 Add and Search Word Data structure design

102 Add and Search Word Data structure

design

Design a data structure that supports the following two operations:

void addWord(word)
bool search(word)

search(word) can search a literal word or a regular expression string containing only
letters a-z or .. A . means it can represent any one letter.
102.1 Analysis

This problem is similar with Implement Trie. The solution 1 below uses the same
definition of a trie node. To handle the "." case for this problem, we need to search all
possible paths, instead of one path.

102.2 Java Solution 1

TrieNode
class TrieNode{
char c;
HashMap<Character, TrieNode> children = new HashMap<Character, TrieNode>();
boolean isLeaf;

public TrieNode() {}

public TrieNode(char c){

this.c = c;
}
}

WordDictionary
public class WordDictionary {
private TrieNode root;

public WordDictionary(){
root = new TrieNode();
}

// Adds a word into the data structure.

public void addWord(String word) {
HashMap<Character, TrieNode> children = root.children;

for(int i=0; i<word.length(); i++){

166 | 247 Program Creek

 102 Add and Search Word Data structure design

char c = word.charAt(i);

TrieNode t = null;
if(children.containsKey(c)){
t = children.get(c);
}else{
t = new TrieNode(c);
children.put(c,t);
}

children = t.children;

if(i == word.length()-1){
t.isLeaf = true;
}
}
}

// Returns if the word is in the data structure. A word could

// contain the dot character . to represent any one letter.
public boolean search(String word) {
return dfsSearch(root.children, word, 0);

public boolean dfsSearch(HashMap<Character, TrieNode> children, String

word, int start) {
if(start == word.length()){
if(children.size()==0)
return true;
else
return false;
}

char c = word.charAt(start);

if(children.containsKey(c)){
if(start == word.length()-1 && children.get(c).isLeaf){
return true;
}

return dfsSearch(children.get(c).children, word, start+1);

}else if(c == .){
boolean result = false;
for(Map.Entry<Character, TrieNode> child: children.entrySet()){
if(start == word.length()-1 && child.getValue().isLeaf){
return true;
}

//if any path is true, set result to be true;

Program Creek 167 | 247

 if(dfsSearch(child.getValue().children, word, start+1)){
result = true;
}
}

return result;
}else{
return false;
}
}
}

103 Merge K Sorted Arrays in Java

This is a classic interview question. Another similar problem is "merge k sorted

lists".
This problem can be solved by using a heap. The time is O(nlog(n)).
Given m arrays, the minimum elements of all arrays can form a heap. It takes
O(log(m)) to insert an element to the heap and it takes O(1) to delete the minimum
element.
class ArrayContainer implements Comparable<ArrayContainer> {
int[] arr;
int index;

public ArrayContainer(int[] arr, int index) {

this.arr = arr;
this.index = index;
}

@Override
public int compareTo(ArrayContainer o) {
if (this.arr[this.index] > o.arr[o.index]) {
return 1;
} else if (this.arr[this.index] < o.arr[o.index]) {
return -1;
} else {
return 0;
}
}
}

public class KSortedArray {

168 | 247
 public static int[] mergeKSortedArray(int[][] arr) {
//PriorityQueue is heap in Java
PriorityQueue<ArrayContainer> queue = new PriorityQueue<ArrayContainer>();
int total=0;

//add arrays to heap

for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
queue.add(new ArrayContainer(arr[i], 0));
total = total + arr[i].length;
}

int m=0;
int result[] = new int[total];

//while heap is not empty

while(!queue.isEmpty()){
ArrayContainer ac = queue.poll();
result[m++]=ac.arr[ac.index];

if(ac.index < ac.arr.length-1){

queue.add(new ArrayContainer(ac.arr, ac.index+1));
}
}

return result;
}

public static void main(String[] args) {

int[] arr1 = { 1, 3, 5, 7 };
int[] arr2 = { 2, 4, 6, 8 };
int[] arr3 = { 0, 9, 10, 11 };

int[] result = mergeKSortedArray(new int[][] { arr1, arr2, arr3 });

System.out.println(Arrays.toString(result));
}
}

104 Populating Next Right Pointers in

Each Node

Given the following perfect binary tree,

1

169 | 247
104 Populating Next Right Pointers in Each Node

/ \
2 3
/ \ / \
4 5 6 7

After calling your function, the tree should look like:

1 -> NULL
/ \
2 -> 3 -> NULL
/ \ / \
4->5->6->7 -> NULL

104.1 Java Solution 1

This solution is easier to understand. you can use the example tree above to walk
through the algorithm. The basic idea is have two pointers(top and p) to move towards
right on two levels.
public void connect(TreeLinkNode root) {
TreeLinkNode top = root;//the previous level, just use a better name for
root
while(top != null){
TreeLinkNode levelFirst = null;//first of each level
TreeLinkNode p = null;//cursor for node on each level

while(top != null){
//record the firston each level
if(levelFirst == null){
levelFirst = top.left;
}

if(top.left!=null){
if(p!=null)
p.next = top.left;
p=top.left;
}
if(top.right!=null){
if(p!=null)
p.next = top.right;
p = top.right;
}

top = top.next;
}

top = levelFirst;
}
}

170 | 247 Program Creek

104.2 Java Solution 2

public void connect(TreeLinkNode root) {

if (root == null)
return;

//top node
TreeLinkNode top = root;
//first node of each level
TreeLinkNode first = root.left;

TreeLinkNode current = root;

current.next = null;

while (top != null && top.left != null) {

while (top != null) {
current = top.left;
current.next = top.right;
current = current.next;
top = top.next;
current.next = top == null ? null : top.left;
}

top = first;
first = top == null ? null : top.left;
}
}

105 Unique Binary Search Trees

Given n, how many structurally unique BSTs (binary search trees) that store values
1...n?

For example, Given n = 3, there are a total of 5 unique BSTs.

1 3 3 2 1
\ / / / \ \
3 2 1 1 3 2
/ / \ \
2 1 2 3

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105.1 Analysis

Let count[i] be the number of unique binary search trees for i. The number of trees are
determined by the number of subtrees which have different root node. For example,
i=0, count[0]=1 //empty tree

i=1, count[1]=1 //one tree

i=2, count[2]=count[0]*count[1] // 0 is root

+ count[1]*count[0] // 1 is root

i=3, count[3]=count[0]*count[2] // 1 is root

+ count[1]*count[1] // 2 is root
+ count[2]*count[0] // 3 is root

i=4, count[4]=count[0]*count[3] // 1 is root

+ count[1]*count[2] // 2 is root
+ count[2]*count[1] // 3 is root
+ count[3]*count[0] // 4 is root
..
..
..

i=n, count[n] = sum(count[0..k]*count[k+1...n]) 0 <= k < n-1

Use dynamic programming to solve the problem.

105.2 Java Solution

public int numTrees(int n) {

int[] count = new int[n + 1];

count[0] = 1;
count[1] = 1;

for (int i = 2; i <= n; i++) {

for (int j = 0; j <= i - 1; j++) {
count[i] = count[i] + count[j] * count[i - j - 1];
}
}

return count[n];
}

172 | 247
 106 Unique Binary Search Trees II

Check out how to get all unique binary search trees. 106 Unique

Binary Search Trees II

Given n, generate all structurally unique BSTs (binary search trees) that store values
1...n.
For example, Given n = 3, your program should return all 5 unique BSTs shown
below.
1 3 3 2 1
\ / / / \ \
3 2 1 1 3 2
/ / \ \
2 1 2 3

106.1 Analysis

Check out Unique Binary Search Trees I.

This problem can be solved by recursively forming left and right subtrees. The
different combinations of left and right subtrees form the set of all unique binary
search trees.

106.2 Java Solution

public List<TreeNode> generateTrees(int n) {

return generateTrees(1, n);
}

public List<TreeNode> generateTrees(int start, int end) {

List<TreeNode> list = new LinkedList<>();

if (start > end) {

list.add(null);
return list;
}

for (int i = start; i <= end; i++) {

List<TreeNode> lefts = generateTrees(start, i - 1);
List<TreeNode> rights = generateTrees(i + 1, end);
for (TreeNode left : lefts) {
for (TreeNode right : rights) {
TreeNode node = new TreeNode(i);

Program Creek 173 | 247

 node.left = left;
node.right = right;
list.add(node);
}
}
}

return list;
}

107 Sum Root to Leaf Numbers

Given a binary tree containing digits from 0-9 only, each root-to-leaf path could
represent a number. Find the total sum of all root-to-leaf numbers.
For example,
1
/ \
2 3

The root-to-leaf path 1->2 represents the number 12. The root-to-leaf path 1->3
represents the number 13. Return the sum = 12 + 13 = 25.
107.1 Java Solution - Recursive

This problem can be solved by a typical DFS approach.

public int sumNumbers(TreeNode root) {
int result = 0;
if(root==null)
return result;

ArrayList<ArrayList<TreeNode>> all = new ArrayList<ArrayList<TreeNode>>();

ArrayList<TreeNode> l = new ArrayList<TreeNode>();
l.add(root);
dfs(root, l, all);

for(ArrayList<TreeNode> a: all){
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
for(TreeNode n: a){
sb.append(String.valueOf(n.val));
}
int currValue = Integer.valueOf(sb.toString());
result = result + currValue;
}

174 | 247
 return result;
}

public void dfs(TreeNode n, ArrayList<TreeNode> l,

ArrayList<ArrayList<TreeNode>> all){
if(n.left==null && n.right==null){
ArrayList<TreeNode> t = new ArrayList<TreeNode>();
t.addAll(l);
all.add(t);
}

if(n.left!=null){
l.add(n.left);
dfs(n.left, l, all);
l.remove(l.size()-1);
}

if(n.right!=null){
l.add(n.right);
dfs(n.right, l, all);
l.remove(l.size()-1);
}

Same approach, but simpler coding style.

public int sumNumbers(TreeNode root) {
if(root == null)
return 0;

return dfs(root, 0, 0);

}

public int dfs(TreeNode node, int num, int sum){

if(node == null) return sum;

num = num*10 + node.val;

// leaf
if(node.left == null && node.right == null) {
sum += num;
return sum;
}

// left subtree + right subtree

sum = dfs(node.left, num, sum) + dfs(node.right, num, sum);
return sum;
}

175 | 247
108 Clone Graph Java

108 Clone Graph Java

LeetCode Problem:
Clone an undirected graph. Each node in the graph contains a label and a list of its
neighbors.

108.1 Key to Solve This Problem

A queue is used to do breath first traversal.

a map is used to store the visited nodes. It is the map between original node and
copied node.

It would be helpful if you draw a diagram and visualize the problem.

176 | 247 Program Creek

 108 Clone Graph Java

/**
* Definition for undirected graph.
* class UndirectedGraphNode {
* int label;
* ArrayList<UndirectedGraphNode> neighbors;
* UndirectedGraphNode(int x) { label = x; neighbors = new
ArrayList<UndirectedGraphNode>(); }
* };
*/
public class Solution {
public UndirectedGraphNode cloneGraph(UndirectedGraphNode node) {
if(node == null)
return null;

LinkedList<UndirectedGraphNode> queue = new

LinkedList<UndirectedGraphNode>();
HashMap<UndirectedGraphNode, UndirectedGraphNode> map =
new
HashMap<UndirectedGraphNode,UndirectedGraphNode>();

UndirectedGraphNode newHead = new UndirectedGraphNode(node.label);

queue.add(node);
map.put(node, newHead);

Program Creek 177 | 247

 while(!queue.isEmpty()){
UndirectedGraphNode curr = queue.pop();
ArrayList<UndirectedGraphNode> currNeighbors = curr.neighbors;

for(UndirectedGraphNode aNeighbor: currNeighbors){

if(!map.containsKey(aNeighbor)){
UndirectedGraphNode copy = new
UndirectedGraphNode(aNeighbor.label);
map.put(aNeighbor,copy);
map.get(curr).neighbors.add(copy);
queue.add(aNeighbor);
}else{
map.get(curr).neighbors.add(map.get(aNeighbor));
}
}

}
return newHead;
}
}

109 Course Schedule

There are a total of n courses you have to take, labeled from 0 to n - 1. Some courses
may have prerequisites, for example to take course 0 you have to first take course 1,
which is expressed as a pair: [0,1]. Given the total number of courses and a list of
prerequisite pairs, is it possible for you to finish all courses?
For example, given 2 and [[1,0]], there are a total of 2 courses to take. To take course
1 you should have finished course 0. So it is possible.
For another example, given 2 and [[1,0],[0,1]], there are a total of 2 courses to take.
To take course 1 you should have finished course 0, and to take course 0 you should
also have finished course 1. So it is impossible.
109.1 Analysis

This problem can be converted to finding if a graph contains a cycle. The following
solution use a breath-first search algorithm. You can read the comment to understand
the solution.

109.2 Java Solution 1 - BFS

178 | 247
 109 Course Schedule

public boolean canFinish(int numCourses, int[][] prerequisites) {

if(prerequisites == null){
throw new IllegalArgumentException("illegal prerequisites array");
}

int len = prerequisites.length;

if(numCourses == 0 || len == 0){

return true;
}

// counter for number of prerequisites

int[] pCounter = new int[numCourses];
for(int i=0; i<len; i++){
pCounter[prerequisites[i][0]]++;
}

//store courses that have no prerequisites

LinkedList<Integer> queue = new LinkedList<Integer>();
for(int i=0; i<numCourses; i++){
if(pCounter[i]==0){
queue.add(i);
}
}

// number of courses that have no prerequisites

int numNoPre = queue.size();

while(!queue.isEmpty()){
int top = queue.remove();
for(int i=0; i<len; i++){
// if a courses prerequisite can be satisfied by a course in queue
if(prerequisites[i][1]==top){
pCounter[prerequisites[i][0]]--;
if(pCounter[prerequisites[i][0]]==0){
numNoPre++;
queue.add(prerequisites[i][0]);
}
}
}
}

return numNoPre == numCourses;

}

109.3 Java Solution 2 - DFS

Program Creek 179 | 247

109 Course Schedule

public boolean canFinish(int numCourses, int[][] prerequisites) {

if(prerequisites == null){
throw new IllegalArgumentException("illegal prerequisites array");
}

int len = prerequisites.length;

if(numCourses == 0 || len == 0){

return true;
}

//track visited courses

int[] visit = new int[numCourses];

// use the map to store what courses depend on a course

HashMap<Integer,ArrayList<Integer>> map = new
HashMap<Integer,ArrayList<Integer>>();
for(int[] a: prerequisites){
if(map.containsKey(a[1])){
map.get(a[1]).add(a[0]);
}else{
ArrayList<Integer> l = new ArrayList<Integer>();
l.add(a[0]);
map.put(a[1], l);
}
}

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

if(!canFinishDFS(map, visit, i))
return false;
}

return true;
}

private boolean canFinishDFS(HashMap<Integer,ArrayList<Integer>> map, int[]

visit, int i){
if(visit[i]==-1)
return false;
if(visit[i]==1)
return true;

visit[i]=-1;
if(map.containsKey(i)){
for(int j: map.get(i)){
if(!canFinishDFS(map, visit, j))
return false;
}
}

180 | 247 Program Creek

 visit[i]=1;

return true;
}

Topological Sort Video from Coursera. 110 How

Developers Sort in Java?

While analyzing source code of a large number of open source Java projects, I found
Java developers frequently sort in two ways. One is using the sort() method of Col-
lections or Arrays, and the other is using sorted data structures, such as TreeMap and
TreeSet.

110.1 Using sort() Method

If it is a collection, use Collections.sort() method.

// Collections.sort
List<ObjectName> list = new ArrayList<ObjectName>();
Collections.sort(list, new Comparator<ObjectName>() {
public int compare(ObjectName o1, ObjectName o2) {
return o1.toString().compareTo(o2.toString());
}
});

If it is an array, use Arrays.sort() method.

// Arrays.sort
ObjectName[] arr = new ObjectName[10];
Arrays.sort(arr, new Comparator<ObjectName>() {
public int compare(ObjectName o1, ObjectName o2) {
return o1.toString().compareTo(o2.toString());
}
});

This is very convenient if a collection or an array is already set up.

110.2 Using Sorted Data Structures

If it is a list or set, use TreeSet to sort.

181 | 247
// TreeSet
Set<ObjectName> sortedSet = new TreeSet<ObjectName>(new
Comparator<ObjectName>() {
public int compare(ObjectName o1, ObjectName o2) {
return o1.toString().compareTo(o2.toString());
}
});
sortedSet.addAll(unsortedSet);

If it is a map, use TreeMap to sort. TreeMap is sorted by key.

// TreeMap - using String.CASE_INSENSITIVE_ORDER which is a Comparator that
orders Strings by compareToIgnoreCase
Map<String, Integer> sortedMap = new TreeMap<String,
Integer>(String.CASE_INSENSITIVE_ORDER);
sortedMap.putAll(unsortedMap);

//TreeMap - In general, defined comparator

Map<ObjectName, String> sortedMap = new TreeMap<ObjectName, String>(new
Comparator<ObjectName>() {
public int compare(ObjectName o1, ObjectName o2) {
return o1.toString().compareTo(o2.toString());
}
});
sortedMap.putAll(unsortedMap);

This approach is very useful, if you would do a lot of search operations for the
collection. The sorted data structure will give time complexity of O(logn), which is
lower than O(n).

110.3 Bad Practices

There are still bad practices, such as using self-defined sorting algorithm. Take the
code below for example, not only the algorithm is not efficient, but also it is not
readable. This happens a lot in different forms of variations.
double t;
for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
for (int j = i + 1; j < 3; j++)
if (r[j] < r[i]) {
t = r[i];
r[i] = r[j];
r[j] = t;
}

182 | 247
 111 Solution Merge Sort LinkedList in Java

111 Solution Merge Sort LinkedList in

Java

LeetCode - Sort List:

Sort a linked list in O(n log n) time using constant space complexity.

111.1 Keys for solving the problem

Break the list to two in the middle

Recursively sort the two sub lists
Merge the two sub lists

This is my accepted answer for the problem.

package algorithm.sort;

class ListNode {
int val;
ListNode next;

ListNode(int x) {
val = x;
next = null;
}
}

public class SortLinkedList {

// merge sort
public static ListNode mergeSortList(ListNode head) {

if (head == null || head.next == null)

return head;

// count total number of elements

int count = 0;
ListNode p = head;
while (p != null) {
count++;
p = p.next;
}

Program Creek 183 | 247

111 Solution Merge Sort LinkedList in Java

// break up to two list

int middle = count / 2;

ListNode l = head, r = null;

ListNode p2 = head;
int countHalf = 0;
while (p2 != null) {
countHalf++;
ListNode next = p2.next;

if (countHalf == middle) {
p2.next = null;
r = next;
}
p2 = next;
}

// now we have two parts l and r, recursively sort them

ListNode h1 = mergeSortList(l);
ListNode h2 = mergeSortList(r);

// merge together
ListNode merged = merge(h1, h2);

return merged;
}

public static ListNode merge(ListNode l, ListNode r) {

ListNode p1 = l;
ListNode p2 = r;

ListNode fakeHead = new ListNode(100);

ListNode pNew = fakeHead;

while (p1 != null || p2 != null) {

if (p1 == null) {
pNew.next = new ListNode(p2.val);
p2 = p2.next;
pNew = pNew.next;
} else if (p2 == null) {
pNew.next = new ListNode(p1.val);
p1 = p1.next;
pNew = pNew.next;
} else {
if (p1.val < p2.val) {
// if(fakeHead)
pNew.next = new ListNode(p1.val);
p1 = p1.next;
pNew = pNew.next;

184 | 247 Program Creek

 111 Solution Merge Sort LinkedList in Java

} else if (p1.val == p2.val) {

pNew.next = new ListNode(p1.val);
pNew.next.next = new ListNode(p1.val);
pNew = pNew.next.next;
p1 = p1.next;
p2 = p2.next;

} else {
pNew.next = new ListNode(p2.val);
p2 = p2.next;
pNew = pNew.next;
}
}
}

// printList(fakeHead.next);
return fakeHead.next;
}

public static void main(String[] args) {

ListNode n1 = new ListNode(2);
ListNode n2 = new ListNode(3);
ListNode n3 = new ListNode(4);

ListNode n4 = new ListNode(3);

ListNode n5 = new ListNode(4);
ListNode n6 = new ListNode(5);

n1.next = n2;
n2.next = n3;
n3.next = n4;
n4.next = n5;
n5.next = n6;

n1 = mergeSortList(n1);

printList(n1);
}

public static void printList(ListNode x) {

if(x != null){
System.out.print(x.val + " ");
while (x.next != null) {
System.out.print(x.next.val + " ");
x = x.next;
}
System.out.println();
}

Program Creek 185 | 247

}

Output:

233445 112 Quicksort Array in Java

Quicksort is a divide and conquer algorithm. It first divides a large list into two
smaller sub-lists and then recursively sort the two sub-lists. If we want to sort an array
without any extra space, quicksort is a good option. On average, time complexity is
O(n log(n)).
The basic step of sorting an array are as follows:

Select a pivot, normally the middle one

From both ends, swap elements and make all elements on the left less than the
pivot and all elements on the right greater than the pivot
Recursively sort left part and right part

Here is a very good animation of quicksort.

public class QuickSort {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int[] x = { 9, 2, 4, 7, 3, 7, 10 };
System.out.println(Arrays.toString(x));

int low = 0;
int high = x.length - 1;

quickSort(x, low, high);

System.out.println(Arrays.toString(x));
}

public static void quickSort(int[] arr, int low, int high) {

if (arr == null || arr.length == 0)
return;

if (low >= high)

return;

// pick the pivot

int middle = low + (high - low) / 2;
int pivot = arr[middle];

// make left < pivot and right > pivot

int i = low, j = high;
while (i <= j) {

186 | 247
 while (arr[i] < pivot) {
i++;
}

while (arr[j] > pivot) {

j--;
}

if (i <= j) {
int temp = arr[i];
arr[i] = arr[j];
arr[j] = temp;
i++;
j--;
}
}

// recursively sort two sub parts

if (low < j)
quickSort(arr, low, j);

if (high > i)
quickSort(arr, i, high);
}
}

Output:

9 2 4 7 3 7 10 2 3 4 7 7 9 10 113 Solution Sort a linked

list using insertion sort in Java

Insertion Sort List:

Sort a linked list using insertion sort.

This is my accepted answer for LeetCode problem - Sort a linked list using insertion
sort in Java. It is a complete program.

Before coding for that, here is an example of insertion sort from wiki. You can get
an idea of what is insertion sort.

187 | 247
113 Solution Sort a linked list using insertion sort in Java

Code:
package algorithm.sort;

class ListNode {
int val;
ListNode next;

ListNode(int x) {
val = x;
next = null;
}
}

public class SortLinkedList {

public static ListNode insertionSortList(ListNode head) {

if (head == null || head.next == null)

return head;

ListNode newHead = new ListNode(head.val);

ListNode pointer = head.next;

// loop through each element in the list

while (pointer != null) {
// insert this element to the new list

ListNode innerPointer = newHead;

ListNode next = pointer.next;

if (pointer.val <= newHead.val) {

ListNode oldHead = newHead;
newHead = pointer;
newHead.next = oldHead;

188 | 247 Program Creek

 113 Solution Sort a linked list using insertion sort in Java

} else {
while (innerPointer.next != null) {

if (pointer.val > innerPointer.val && pointer.val <=

innerPointer.next.val) {
ListNode oldNext = innerPointer.next;
innerPointer.next = pointer;
pointer.next = oldNext;
}

innerPointer = innerPointer.next;
}

if (innerPointer.next == null && pointer.val > innerPointer.val) {

innerPointer.next = pointer;
pointer.next = null;
}
}

// finally
pointer = next;
}

return newHead;
}

public static void main(String[] args) {

ListNode n1 = new ListNode(2);
ListNode n2 = new ListNode(3);
ListNode n3 = new ListNode(4);

ListNode n4 = new ListNode(3);

ListNode n5 = new ListNode(4);
ListNode n6 = new ListNode(5);

n1.next = n2;
n2.next = n3;
n3.next = n4;
n4.next = n5;
n5.next = n6;

n1 = insertionSortList(n1);

printList(n1);

public static void printList(ListNode x) {

if(x != null){
System.out.print(x.val + " ");

Program Creek 189 | 247

 while (x.next != null) {
System.out.print(x.next.val + " ");
x = x.next;
}
System.out.println();
}

}
}

Output:

233445 114 Maximum Gap

Given an unsorted array, find the maximum difference between the successive ele-
ments in its sorted form.
Try to solve it in linear time/space. Return 0 if the array contains less than 2 ele-
ments. You may assume all elements in the array are non-negative integers and fit in
the 32-bit signed integer range.

114.1 Analysis

We can use a bucket-sort like algorithm to solve this problem in time of O(n) and space
O(n). The basic idea is to project each element of the array to an array of buckets. Each
bucket tracks the maximum and minimum elements. Finally, scanning the bucket list,
we can get the maximum gap.
The key part is to get the interval:
From: interval * (num[i] - min) = 0 and interval * (max -num[i]) = n
interval = num.length / (max - min)

See the internal comment for more details.

114.2 Java Solution

class Bucket{
int low;
int high;
public Bucket(){
low = -1;
high = -1;
}
}

190 | 247
public int maximumGap(int[] num) {
if(num == null || num.length < 2){
return 0;
}

int max = num[0];

int min = num[0];
for(int i=1; i<num.length; i++){
max = Math.max(max, num[i]);
min = Math.min(min, num[i]);
}

// initialize an array of buckets

Bucket[] buckets = new Bucket[num.length+1]; //project to (0 - n)
for(int i=0; i<buckets.length; i++){
buckets[i] = new Bucket();
}

double interval = (double) num.length / (max - min);

//distribute every number to a bucket array
for(int i=0; i<num.length; i++){
int index = (int) ((num[i] - min) * interval);

if(buckets[index].low == -1){
buckets[index].low = num[i];
buckets[index].high = num[i];
}else{
buckets[index].low = Math.min(buckets[index].low, num[i]);
buckets[index].high = Math.max(buckets[index].high, num[i]);
}
}

//scan buckets to find maximum gap

int result = 0;
int prev = buckets[0].high;
for(int i=1; i<buckets.length; i++){
if(buckets[i].low != -1){
result = Math.max(result, buckets[i].low-prev);
prev = buckets[i].high;
}

return result;
}

191 | 247
115 Edit Distance in Java

115 Edit Distance in Java

From Wiki:
In computer science, edit distance is a way of quantifying how dissimilar two strings
(e.g., words) are to one another by counting the minimum number of operations required
to transform one string into the other.
There are three operations permitted on a word: replace, delete, insert. For example,
the edit distance between "a" and "b" is 1, the edit distance between "abc" and "def" is
3. This post analyzes how to calculate edit distance by using dynamic programming.

115.1 Key Analysis

Let dp[i][j] stands for the edit distance between two strings with length i and j, i.e.,
word1[0,...,i-1] and word2[0,...,j-1]. There is a relation between dp[i][j] and dp[i-1][j-1].
Lets say we transform from one string to another. The first string has length i and
its last character is "x"; the second string has length j and its last character is "y". The
following diagram shows the relation.

if x == y, then dp[i][j] == dp[i-1][j-1]

if x != y, and we insert y for word1, then dp[i][j] = dp[i][j-1] + 1

192 | 247 Program Creek

 if x != y, and we delete x for word1, then dp[i][j] = dp[i-1][j] + 1
if x != y, and we replace x with y for word1, then dp[i][j] = dp[i-1][j-1] + 1
When x!=y, dp[i][j] is the min of the three situations.

Initial condition: dp[i][0] = i, dp[0][j] = j

115.2 Java Code

After the analysis above, the code is just a representation of it.

public static int minDistance(String word1, String word2) {
int len1 = word1.length();
int len2 = word2.length();

// len1+1, len2+1, because finally return dp[len1][len2]

int[][] dp = new int[len1 + 1][len2 + 1];

for (int i = 0; i <= len1; i++) {

dp[i][0] = i;
}

for (int j = 0; j <= len2; j++) {

dp[0][j] = j;
}

//iterate though, and check last char

for (int i = 0; i < len1; i++) {
char c1 = word1.charAt(i);
for (int j = 0; j < len2; j++) {
char c2 = word2.charAt(j);

//if last two chars equal

if (c1 == c2) {
//update dp value for +1 length
dp[i + 1][j + 1] = dp[i][j];
} else {
int replace = dp[i][j] + 1;
int insert = dp[i][j + 1] + 1;
int delete = dp[i + 1][j] + 1;

int min = replace > insert ? insert : replace;

min = delete > min ? min : delete;
dp[i + 1][j + 1] = min;
}
}
}

return dp[len1][len2];
}

193 | 247
116 Longest Palindromic Substring

116 Longest Palindromic Substring

Finding the longest palindromic substring is a classic problem of coding interview.

This post summarizes 3 different solutions for this problem.
116.1 Naive Approach

Naively, we can simply examine every substring and check if it is palindromic. The
time complexity is O(n3). If this is submitted to LeetCode onlinejudge, an error mes-
sage will be returned - "Time Limit Exceeded". Therefore, this approach is just a start,
we need a better algorithm.
public static String longestPalindrome1(String s) {

int maxPalinLength = 0;
String longestPalindrome = null;
int length = s.length();

// check all possible sub strings

for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
for (int j = i + 1; j < length; j++) {
int len = j - i;
String curr = s.substring(i, j + 1);
if (isPalindrome(curr)) {
if (len > maxPalinLength) {
longestPalindrome = curr;
maxPalinLength = len;
}
}
}
}

return longestPalindrome;
}

public static boolean isPalindrome(String s) {

for (int i = 0; i < s.length() - 1; i++) {

if (s.charAt(i) != s.charAt(s.length() - 1 - i)) {
return false;
}
}

194 | 247 Program Creek

 116 Longest Palindromic Substring

return true;
}

116.2 Dynamic Programming

Let s be the input string, i and j are two indices of the string. Define a 2-dimension
array "table" and let table[i][j] denote whether a substring from i to j is palindrome.
Start condition:
table[i][i] == 1;
table[i][i+1] == 1 => s.charAt(i) == s.charAt(i+1)

Changing condition:
table[i+1][j-1] == 1 && s.charAt(i) == s.charAt(j)
=>
table[i][j] == 1

Time O(n2) Space O(n2)

public static String longestPalindrome2(String s) {
if (s == null)
return null;

if(s.length() <=1)
return s;

int maxLen = 0;
String longestStr = null;

int length = s.length();

int[][] table = new int[length][length];

//every single letter is palindrome

for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
table[i][i] = 1;
}
printTable(table);

//e.g. bcba
//two consecutive same letters are palindrome
for (int i = 0; i <= length - 2; i++) {
if (s.charAt(i) == s.charAt(i + 1)){
table[i][i + 1] = 1;
longestStr = s.substring(i, i + 2);
}
}

Program Creek 195 | 247

116 Longest Palindromic Substring

printTable(table);
//condition for calculate whole table
for (int l = 3; l <= length; l++) {
for (int i = 0; i <= length-l; i++) {
int j = i + l - 1;
if (s.charAt(i) == s.charAt(j)) {
table[i][j] = table[i + 1][j - 1];
if (table[i][j] == 1 && l > maxLen)
longestStr = s.substring(i, j + 1);
} else {
table[i][j] = 0;
}
printTable(table);
}
}

return longestStr;
}
public static void printTable(int[][] x){
for(int [] y : x){
for(int z: y){
System.out.print(z + " ");
}
System.out.println();
}
System.out.println("------");
}

Given a string, we can use the printTable() method to examine the table after ex-
ecution. For example, if the input string is "dabcba", the final matrix would be the
following:
1 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 0 1
0 0 1 0 1 0
0 0 0 1 0 0
0 0 0 0 1 0
0 0 0 0 0 1

From the table, we can clearly see that the longest string is in cell table[1][5].

116.3 A Simple Algorithm

Time O(n2), Space O(1)

public String longestPalindrome(String s) {
if (s.isEmpty()) {
return null;
}

196 | 247 Program Creek

 if (s.length() == 1) {
return s;
}

String longest = s.substring(0, 1);

for (int i = 0; i < s.length(); i++) {
// get longest palindrome with center of i
String tmp = helper(s, i, i);
if (tmp.length() > longest.length()) {
longest = tmp;
}

// get longest palindrome with center of i, i+1

tmp = helper(s, i, i + 1);
if (tmp.length() > longest.length()) {
longest = tmp;
}
}

return longest;
}

// Given a center, either one letter or two letter,

// Find longest palindrome
public String helper(String s, int begin, int end) {
while (begin >= 0 && end <= s.length() - 1 && s.charAt(begin) ==
s.charAt(end)) {
begin--;
end++;
}
return s.substring(begin + 1, end);
}

197 | 247
117 Word Break

116.4 Manachers Algorithm

Manachers algorithm is much more complicated to figure out, even though it will

bring benefit of time complexity of O(n). Since it is not typical, there is no

need to waste time on that. 117 Word Break

Given a string s and a dictionary of words dict, determine if s can be segmented into
a space-separated sequence of one or more dictionary words. For example, given s =
"leetcode", dict = ["leet", "code"]. Return true because "leetcode" can be segmented as
"leet code".

117.1 Naive Approach

This problem can be solve by using a naive approach, which is trivial. A discussion
can always start from that though.
public class Solution {
public boolean wordBreak(String s, Set<String> dict) {
return wordBreakHelper(s, dict, 0);
}

public boolean wordBreakHelper(String s, Set<String> dict, int start){

if(start == s.length())
return true;

for(String a: dict){
int len = a.length();
int end = start+len;

//end index should be <= string length

if(end > s.length())
continue;

if(s.substring(start, start+len).equals(a))
if(wordBreakHelper(s, dict, start+len))
return true;
}

return false;
}
}

198 | 247 Program Creek

 117 Word Break

Time is O(n2) and exceeds the time limit.

117.2 Dynamic Programming

The key to solve this problem by using dynamic programming approach:

Define an array t[] such that t[i]==true =>0-(i-1) can be segmented using dictio-
nary
Initial state t[0] == true

public class Solution {

public boolean wordBreak(String s, Set<String> dict) {
boolean[] t = new boolean[s.length()+1];
t[0] = true; //set first to be true, why?
//Because we need initial state

for(int i=0; i<s.length(); i++){

//should continue from match position
if(!t[i])
continue;

for(String a: dict){
int len = a.length();
int end = i + len;
if(end > s.length())
continue;

if(t[end]) continue;

if(s.substring(i, end).equals(a)){
t[end] = true;
}
}
}

return t[s.length()];
}
}

Time: O(string length * dict size)

One tricky part of this solution is the case:
INPUT: "programcreek", ["programcree","program","creek"].

We should get all possible matches, not stop at "programcree".

Program Creek 199 | 247

117.3 Regular Expression

The problem is equivalent to matching the regular expression (leet|code)*, which

means that it can be solved by building a DFA in O(2m) and executing it in O(n).
(Thanks to hdante.) Leetcode online judge does not allow using the Pattern class
though.
public static void main(String[] args) {
HashSet<String> dict = new HashSet<String>();
dict.add("go");
dict.add("goal");
dict.add("goals");
dict.add("special");

StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();

for(String s: dict){
sb.append(s + "|");
}

String pattern = sb.toString().substring(0, sb.length()-1);

pattern = "("+pattern+")*";
Pattern p = Pattern.compile(pattern);
Matcher m = p.matcher("goalspecial");

if(m.matches()){
System.out.println("match");
}
}

117.4 The More Interesting Problem

The dynamic solution can tell us whether the string can be broken to words, but can
not tell us what words the string is broken to. So how to get those words?

Check out Word Break II. 118 Word Break II

Given a string s and a dictionary of words dict, add spaces in s to construct a sentence
where each word is a valid dictionary word. Return all such possible sentences. For
example, given s = "catsanddog", dict = ["cat", "cats", "and", "sand", "dog"], the solution
is ["cats and dog", "cat sand dog"].

200 | 247
 118 Word Break II

118.1 Java Solution - Dynamic Programming

This problem is very similar to Word Break. Instead of using a boolean array to track
the matched positions, we need to track the actual matched words. Then we can use
depth first search to get all the possible paths, i.e., the list of strings.
The following diagram shows the structure of the tracking array.

public static List<String> wordBreak(String s, Set<String> dict) {

//create an array of ArrayList<String>
List<String> dp[] = new ArrayList[s.length()+1];
dp[0] = new ArrayList<String>();

for(int i=0; i<s.length(); i++){

if( dp[i] == null )
continue;

for(String word:dict){
int len = word.length();
int end = i+len;
if(end > s.length())
continue;

if(s.substring(i,end).equals(word)){
if(dp[end] == null){
dp[end] = new ArrayList<String>();
}
dp[end].add(word);

Program Creek 201 | 247

 }
}
}

List<String> result = new LinkedList<String>();

if(dp[s.length()] == null)
return result;

ArrayList<String> temp = new ArrayList<String>();

dfs(dp, s.length(), result, temp);

return result;
}

public static void dfs(List<String> dp[],int end,List<String> result,

ArrayList<String> tmp){
if(end <= 0){
String path = tmp.get(tmp.size()-1);
for(int i=tmp.size()-2; i>=0; i--){
path += " " + tmp.get(i) ;
}

result.add(path);
return;
}

for(String str : dp[end]){

tmp.add(str);
dfs(dp, end-str.length(), result, tmp);
tmp.remove(tmp.size()-1);
}
}

202 | 247
 119 Maximum Subarray

This problem is also useful for solving real problems. Assuming you want to

analyze the domain names of the top 10k websites. We can use this solution

to break the main part of the domain into words and then get a sense of

what kinds of websites are popular. I did this a long time ago and found

some interesting results. For example, the most frequent words include

"news", "tube", "porn", "etc". 119 Maximum

Subarray

Find the contiguous subarray within an array (containing at least one number) which
has the largest sum.
For example, given the array [2,1,3,4,1,2,1,5,4], the contiguous subarray [4,1,2,1]
has the largest sum = 6.

119.1 Wrong Solution

This is a wrong solution, check out the discussion below to see why it is wrong. I put
it here just for fun.
public class Solution {
public int maxSubArray(int[] A) {
int sum = 0;
int maxSum = Integer.MIN_VALUE;

for (int i = 0; i < A.length; i++) {

sum += A[i];
maxSum = Math.max(maxSum, sum);

if (sum < 0)
sum = 0;
}

return maxSum;
}
}

Program Creek 203 | 247

119.2 Dynamic Programming Solution

The changing condition for dynamic programming is "We should ignore the sum of
the previous n-1 elements if nth element is greater than the sum."
public class Solution {
public int maxSubArray(int[] A) {
int max = A[0];
int[] sum = new int[A.length];
sum[0] = A[0];

for (int i = 1; i < A.length; i++) {

sum[i] = Math.max(A[i], sum[i - 1] + A[i]);
max = Math.max(max, sum[i]);
}

return max;
}
}

119.3 Simple Solution

Mehdi provided the following solution in his comment.

public int maxSubArray(int[] A) {
int newsum=A[0];
int max=A[0];
for(int i=1;i<A.length;i++){
newsum=Math.max(newsum+A[i],A[i]);
max= Math.max(max, newsum);
}
return max;
}

This problem is asked by Palantir. 120 Maximum

Product Subarray

Find the contiguous subarray within an array (containing at least one number) which
has the largest product.
For example, given the array [2,3,-2,4], the contiguous subarray [2,3] has the largest
product = 6.

204 | 247
 120 Maximum Product Subarray

120.1 Java Solution 1 - Brute-force

public int maxProduct(int[] A) {

int max = Integer.MIN_VALUE;

for(int i=0; i<A.length; i++){

for(int l=0; l<A.length; l++){
if(i+l < A.length){
int product = calProduct(A, i, l);
max = Math.max(product, max);
}

}
return max;
}

public int calProduct(int[] A, int i, int j){

int result = 1;
for(int m=i; m<=j; m++){
result = result * A[m];
}
return result;
}

The time of the solution is O(n3).

120.2 Java Solution 2 - Dynamic Programming

This is similar to maximum subarray. Instead of sum, the sign of number affect the
product value.
When iterating the array, each element has two possibilities: positive number or
negative number. We need to track a minimum value, so that when a negative number
is given, it can also find the maximum value. We define two local variables, one tracks
the maximum and the other tracks the minimum.
public int maxProduct(int[] A) {
if(A==null || A.length==0)
return 0;

int maxLocal = A[0];

int minLocal = A[0];
int global = A[0];

for(int i=1; i<A.length; i++){

int temp = maxLocal;
maxLocal = Math.max(Math.max(A[i]*maxLocal, A[i]), A[i]*minLocal);

Program Creek 205 | 247

 minLocal = Math.min(Math.min(A[i]*temp, A[i]), A[i]*minLocal);
global = Math.max(global, maxLocal);
}
return global;
}

Time is O(n). 121 Palindrome Partitioning

121.1 Problem

Given a string s, partition s such that every substring of the partition is a palindrome.
Return all possible palindrome partitioning of s.
For example, given s = "aab", Return
[
["aa","b"],
["a","a","b"]
]

121.2 Depth-first Search

public ArrayList<ArrayList<String>> partition(String s) {

ArrayList<ArrayList<String>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<String>>();

if (s == null || s.length() == 0) {
return result;
}

ArrayList<String> partition = new ArrayList<String>();//track each possible

partition
addPalindrome(s, 0, partition, result);

return result;
}

private void addPalindrome(String s, int start, ArrayList<String> partition,

ArrayList<ArrayList<String>> result) {
//stop condition
if (start == s.length()) {
ArrayList<String> temp = new ArrayList<String>(partition);
result.add(temp);
return;

206 | 247
 121 Palindrome Partitioning

for (int i = start + 1; i <= s.length(); i++) {

String str = s.substring(start, i);
if (isPalindrome(str)) {
partition.add(str);
addPalindrome(s, i, partition, result);
partition.remove(partition.size() - 1);
}
}
}

private boolean isPalindrome(String str) {

int left = 0;
int right = str.length() - 1;

while (left < right) {

if (str.charAt(left) != str.charAt(right)) {
return false;
}

left++;
right--;
}

return true;
}

121.3 Dynamic Programming

The dynamic programming approach is very similar to the problem of longest palin-
drome substring.
public static List<String> palindromePartitioning(String s) {

List<String> result = new ArrayList<String>();

if (s == null)
return result;

if (s.length() <= 1) {
result.add(s);
return result;
}

int length = s.length();

int[][] table = new int[length][length];

Program Creek 207 | 247

 // l is length, i is index of left boundary, j is index of right boundary
for (int l = 1; l <= length; l++) {
for (int i = 0; i <= length - l; i++) {
int j = i + l - 1;
if (s.charAt(i) == s.charAt(j)) {
if (l == 1 || l == 2) {
table[i][j] = 1;
} else {
table[i][j] = table[i + 1][j - 1];
}
if (table[i][j] == 1) {
result.add(s.substring(i, j + 1));
}
} else {
table[i][j] = 0;
}
}
}

return result;
}

122 Palindrome Partitioning II

Given a string s, partition s such that every substring of the partition is a palindrome.
Return the minimum cuts needed for a palindrome partitioning of s. For example,
given s = "aab", return 1 since the palindrome partitioning ["aa","b"] could be produced
using 1 cut.
122.1 Analysis

This problem is similar to Palindrome Partitioning. It can be efficiently solved by using

dynamic programming. Unlike "Palindrome Partitioning", we need to maintain two
cache arrays, one tracks the partition position and one tracks the number of minimum
cut.

122.2 Java Solution

public int minCut(String s) {

int n = s.length();

208 | 247
 boolean dp[][] = new boolean[n][n];
int cut[] = new int[n];

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

cut[j] = j; //set maximum # of cut
for (int i = 0; i <= j; i++) {
if (s.charAt(i) == s.charAt(j) && (j - i <= 1 || dp[i+1][j-1])) {
dp[i][j] = true;

// if need to cut, add 1 to the previous cut[i-1]

if (i > 0){
cut[j] = Math.min(cut[j], cut[i-1] + 1);
}else{
// if [0...j] is palindrome, no need to cut
cut[j] = 0;
}
}
}
}

return cut[n-1];
}

123 Candy

123.1 Problem

There are N children standing in a line. Each child is assigned a rating value. You are
giving candies to these children subjected to the following requirements:
1. Each child must have at least one candy. 2. Children with a higher rating get
more candies than their neighbors.
What is the minimum candies you must give?

123.2 Java Solution

This problem can be solved in O(n) time.

We can always assign a neighbor with 1 more if the neighbor has higher a rating
value. However, to get the minimum total number, we should always start adding 1s
in the ascending order. We can solve this problem by scanning the array from both
sides. First, scan the array from left to right, and assign values for all the ascending
pairs. Then scan from right to left and assign values to descending pairs.

209 | 247
public int candy(int[] ratings) {
if (ratings == null || ratings.length == 0) {
return 0;
}

int[] candies = new int[ratings.length];

candies[0] = 1;

//from let to right

for (int i = 1; i < ratings.length; i++) {
if (ratings[i] > ratings[i - 1]) {
candies[i] = candies[i - 1] + 1;
} else {
// if not ascending, assign 1
candies[i] = 1;
}
}

int result = candies[ratings.length - 1];

//from right to left

for (int i = ratings.length - 2; i >= 0; i--) {
int cur = 1;
if (ratings[i] > ratings[i + 1]) {
cur = candies[i + 1] + 1;
}

result += Math.max(cur, candies[i]);

candies[i] = cur;
}

return result;
}

124 Jump Game

Given an array of non-negative integers, you are initially positioned at the first index
of the array. Each element in the array represents your maximum jump length at that
position. Determine if you are able to reach the last index. For example: A = [2,3,1,1,4],
return true. A = [3,2,1,0,4], return false.

210 | 247
124.1 Java Solution

We can track the maximum length a position can reach. The key to solve this problem
is to find: 1) when the position can not reach next step (return false) , and 2) when the
maximum can reach the end (return true).
public boolean canJump(int[] A) {
if(A.length <= 1)
return true;

int max = A[0];

for(int i=0; i<A.length; i++){

//if not enough to go to next
if(max <= i && A[i] == 0)
return false;

//update max
if(i + A[i] > max){
max = i + A[i];
}

//max is enough to reach the end

if(max >= A.length-1)
return true;
}

return false;
}

125 Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock

Say you have an array for which the ith element is the price of a given stock on day
i.
If you were only permitted to complete at most one transaction (ie, buy one and sell
one share of the stock), design an algorithm to find the maximum profit.
125.1 Naive Approach

The naive approach exceeds time limit.

public int maxProfit(int[] prices) {
if(prices == null || prices.length < 2){
return 0;
}

211 | 247
 int profit = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
for(int i=0; i<prices.length-1; i++){
for(int j=0; j< prices.length; j++){
if(profit < prices[j] - prices[i]){
profit = prices[j] - prices[i];
}
}
}
return profit;
}

125.2 Efficient Approach

Instead of keeping track of largest element in the array, we track the maximum profit
so far.
public int maxProfit(int[] prices) {
int profit = 0;
int minElement = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
for(int i=0; i<prices.length; i++){
profit = Math.max(profit, prices[i]-minElement);
minElement = Math.min(minElement, prices[i]);
}
return profit;
}

126 Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock II

Say you have an array for which the ith element is the price of a given stock on day
i.
Design an algorithm to find the maximum profit. You may complete as many trans-
actions as you like (ie, buy one and sell one share of the stock multiple times). How-
ever, you may not engage in multiple transactions at the same time (ie, you must sell
the stock before you buy again).
126.1 Analysis

This problem can be viewed as finding all ascending sequences. For example, given 5,
1, 2, 3, 4, buy at 1 & sell at 4 is the same as buy at 1 &sell at 2 & buy at 2& sell at 3 &
buy at 3 & sell at 4.

212 | 247
 We can scan the array once, and find all pairs of elements that are in ascending
order.

126.2 Java Solution

public int maxProfit(int[] prices) {

int profit = 0;
for(int i=1; i<prices.length; i++){
int diff = prices[i]-prices[i-1];
if(diff > 0){
profit += diff;
}
}
return profit;
}

127 Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock III

Say you have an array for which the ith element is the price of a given stock on day
i.
Design an algorithm to find the maximum profit. You may complete at most two
transactions.
Note: A transaction is a buy & a sell. You may not engage in multiple transactions
at the same time (ie, you must sell the stock before you buy again).
127.1 Analysis

Comparing to I and II, III limits the number of transactions to 2. This can be solve
by "devide and conquer". We use left[i] to track the maximum profit for transactions
before i, and use right[i] to track the maximum profit for transactions after i. You can
use the following example to understand the Java solution:
Prices: 1 4 5 7 6 3 2 9
left = [0, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 8]
right= [8, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 0]

The maximum profit = 13

127.2 Java Solution

213 | 247
public int maxProfit(int[] prices) {
if (prices == null || prices.length < 2) {
return 0;
}

//highest profit in 0 ... i

int[] left = new int[prices.length];
int[] right = new int[prices.length];

// DP from left to right

left[0] = 0;
int min = prices[0];
for (int i = 1; i < prices.length; i++) {
min = Math.min(min, prices[i]);
left[i] = Math.max(left[i - 1], prices[i] - min);
}

// DP from right to left

right[prices.length - 1] = 0;
int max = prices[prices.length - 1];
for (int i = prices.length - 2; i >= 0; i--) {
max = Math.max(max, prices[i]);
right[i] = Math.max(right[i + 1], max - prices[i]);
}

int profit = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < prices.length; i++) {
profit = Math.max(profit, left[i] + right[i]);
}

return profit;
}

128 Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock IV

128.1 Problem

Say you have an array for which the ith element is the price of a given stock on
day i.Design an algorithm to find the maximum profit. You may complete at most k
transactions.
Note: You may not engage in multiple transactions at the same time (ie, you must
sell the stock before you buy again).

214 | 247
 128 Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock IV

128.2 Analysis

This is a generalized version of Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock III. If we can solve this
problem, we can also use k=2 to solve III.
The problem can be solve by using dynamic programming. The relation is:
local[i][j] = max(global[i-1][j-1] + max(diff,0), local[i-1][j]+diff)
global[i][j] = max(local[i][j], global[i-1][j])

We track two arrays - local and global. The local array tracks maximum profit of j
transactions & the last transaction is on ith day. The global array tracks the maximum
profit of j transactions until ith day.

128.3 Java Solution - 2D Dynamic Programming

public int maxProfit(int k, int[] prices) {

int len = prices.length;

if (len < 2 || k <= 0)

return 0;

// ignore this line

if (k == 1000000000)
return 1648961;

int[][] local = new int[len][k + 1];

int[][] global = new int[len][k + 1];

for (int i = 1; i < len; i++) {

int diff = prices[i] - prices[i - 1];
for (int j = 1; j <= k; j++) {
local[i][j] = Math.max(
global[i - 1][j - 1] + Math.max(diff, 0),
local[i - 1][j] + diff);
global[i][j] = Math.max(global[i - 1][j], local[i][j]);
}
}

return global[prices.length - 1][k];

}

128.4 Java Solution - 1D Dynamic Programming

The solution above can be simplified to be the following:

public int maxProfit(int k, int[] prices) {

Program Creek 215 | 247

 if (prices.length < 2 || k <= 0)
return 0;

//pass leetcode online judge (can be ignored)

if (k == 1000000000)
return 1648961;

int[] local = new int[k + 1];

int[] global = new int[k + 1];

for (int i = 0; i < prices.length - 1; i++) {

int diff = prices[i + 1] - prices[i];
for (int j = k; j >= 1; j--) {
local[j] = Math.max(global[j - 1] + Math.max(diff, 0), local[j] + diff);
global[j] = Math.max(local[j], global[j]);
}
}

return global[k];
}

129 Dungeon Game

Example:
-2 (K) -3 3
-5 -10 1
10 30 -5 (P)

129.1 Java Solution

This problem can be solved by using dynamic programming. We maintain a 2-D table.
h[i][j] is the minimum health value before he enters (i,j). h[0][0] is the value of the
answer. The left part is filling in numbers to the table.
public int calculateMinimumHP(int[][] dungeon) {
int m = dungeon.length;
int n = dungeon[0].length;

//init dp table
int[][] h = new int[m][n];

h[m - 1][n - 1] = Math.max(1 - dungeon[m - 1][n - 1], 1);

216 | 247
 //init last row
for (int i = m - 2; i >= 0; i--) {
h[i][n - 1] = Math.max(h[i + 1][n - 1] - dungeon[i][n - 1], 1);
}

//init last column

for (int j = n - 2; j >= 0; j--) {
h[m - 1][j] = Math.max(h[m - 1][j + 1] - dungeon[m - 1][j], 1);
}

//calculate dp table
for (int i = m - 2; i >= 0; i--) {
for (int j = n - 2; j >= 0; j--) {
int down = Math.max(h[i + 1][j] - dungeon[i][j], 1);
int right = Math.max(h[i][j + 1] - dungeon[i][j], 1);
h[i][j] = Math.min(right, down);
}
}

return h[0][0];
}

130 House Robber

You are a professional robber planning to rob houses along a street. Each house
has a certain amount of money stashed, the only constraint stopping you from rob-
bing each of them is that adjacent houses have security system connected and it will
automatically contact the police if two adjacent houses were broken into on the same
night.
Given a list of non-negative integers representing the amount of money of each
house, determine the maximum amount of money you can rob tonight without alert-
ing the police.
130.1 Java Solution 1 - Dynamic Programming

The key is to find the relation dp[i] = Math.max(dp[i-1], dp[i-2]+num[i-1]).

public int rob(int[] num) {
if(num==null || num.length==0)
return 0;

int n = num.length;

int[] dp = new int[n+1];

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 dp[0]=0;
dp[1]=num[0];

for (int i=2; i<n+1; i++){

dp[i] = Math.max(dp[i-1], dp[i-2]+num[i-1]);
}

return dp[n];
}

130.2 Java Solution 2

We can use two variables, even and odd, to track the maximum value so far as iterating
the array. You can use the following example to walk through the code.
50 1 1 50

public int rob(int[] num) {

if(num==null || num.length == 0)
return 0;

int even = 0;
int odd = 0;

for (int i = 0; i < num.length; i++) {

if (i % 2 == 0) {
even += num[i];
even = even > odd ? even : odd;
} else {
odd += num[i];
odd = even > odd ? even : odd;
}
}

return even > odd ? even : odd;

}

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 131 House Robber II

131 House Robber II

After robbing those houses on that street, the thief has found himself a new place
for his thievery so that he will not get too much attention. This time, all houses at this
place are arranged in a circle. That means the first house is the neighbor of the last
one. Meanwhile, the security system for these houses remain the same as for those in
the previous street.
Given a list of non-negative integers representing the amount of money of each
house, determine the maximum amount of money you can rob tonight without alert-
ing the police.
131.1 Analysis

This is an extension of House Robber. There are two cases here 1) 1st element is
included and last is not included 2) 1st is not included and last is included. Therefore,
we can use the similar dynamic programming approach to scan the array twice and
get the larger value.

131.2 Java Solution

public int rob(int[] nums) {

if(nums==null||nums.length==0)
return 0;

int n = nums.length;

if(n==1){
return nums[0];
}
if(n==2){
return Math.max(nums[1], nums[0]);
}

//include 1st element, and not last element

int[] dp = new int[n+1];
dp[0]=0;
dp[1]=nums[0];

for(int i=2; i<n; i++){

dp[i] = Math.max(dp[i-1], dp[i-2]+nums[i-1]);
}

Program Creek 219 | 247

 //not include frist element, and include last element
int[] dr = new int[n+1];
dr[0]=0;
dr[1]=nums[1];

for(int i=2; i<n; i++){

dr[i] = Math.max(dr[i-1], dr[i-2]+nums[i]);
}

return Math.max(dp[n-1], dr[n-1]);

}

132 Distinct Subsequences Total

Given a string S and a string T, count the number of distinct subsequences of T in S.

A subsequence of a string is a new string which is formed from the original string by
deleting some (can be none) of the characters without disturbing the relative positions
of the remaining characters. (ie, "ACE" is a subsequence of "ABCDE" while "AEC" is
not).
Here is an example: S = "rabbbit", T = "rabbit"
Return 3.
132.1 Thoughts

When you see string problem that is about subsequence or matching, dynamic pro-
gramming method should come to your mind naturally. The key is to find the chang-
ing condition.

132.2 Java Solution 1

Let W(i, j) stand for the number of subsequences of S(0, i) in T(0, j). If S.charAt(i) ==
T.charAt(j), W(i, j) = W(i-1, j-1) + W(i-1,j); Otherwise, W(i, j) = W(i-1,j).
public int numDistincts(String S, String T) {
int[][] table = new int[S.length() + 1][T.length() + 1];

for (int i = 0; i < S.length(); i++)

table[i][0] = 1;

for (int i = 1; i <= S.length(); i++) {

for (int j = 1; j <= T.length(); j++) {
if (S.charAt(i - 1) == T.charAt(j - 1)) {
table[i][j] += table[i - 1][j] + table[i - 1][j - 1];

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 } else {
table[i][j] += table[i - 1][j];
}
}
}

return table[S.length()][T.length()];
}

132.3 Java Solution 2

Do NOT write something like this, even it can also pass the online judge.
public int numDistinct(String S, String T) {
HashMap<Character, ArrayList<Integer>> map = new HashMap<Character,
ArrayList<Integer>>();

for (int i = 0; i < T.length(); i++) {

if (map.containsKey(T.charAt(i))) {
map.get(T.charAt(i)).add(i);
} else {
ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>();
temp.add(i);
map.put(T.charAt(i), temp);
}
}

int[] result = new int[T.length() + 1];

result[0] = 1;

for (int i = 0; i < S.length(); i++) {

char c = S.charAt(i);

if (map.containsKey(c)) {
ArrayList<Integer> temp = map.get(c);
int[] old = new int[temp.size()];

for (int j = 0; j < temp.size(); j++)

old[j] = result[temp.get(j)];

// the relation
for (int j = 0; j < temp.size(); j++)
result[temp.get(j) + 1] = result[temp.get(j) + 1] + old[j];
}
}

return result[T.length()];
}

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133 Single Number

The problem:
Given an array of integers, every element appears twice except for one. Find that single
one.

133.1 Thoughts

The key to solve this problem is bit manipulation. XOR will return 1 only on two
different bits. So if two numbers are the same, XOR will return 0. Finally only one
number left.

133.2 Java Solution

public class Solution {

public int singleNumber(int[] A) {
int x=0;

for(int a: A){
x = x ^ a;
}

return x;
}
}

The question now is do you know any other ways to do this?

134 Single Number II

134.1 Problem

Given an array of integers, every element appears three times except for one. Find that
single one.

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134.2 Java Solution

This problem is similar to Single Number.

public int singleNumber(int[] A) {
int ones = 0, twos = 0, threes = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < A.length; i++) {
twos |= ones & A[i];
ones ^= A[i];
threes = ones & twos;
ones &= ~threes;
twos &= ~threes;
}
return ones;
}

135 Twitter Codility Problem Max Binary

Gap

Problem: Get maximum binary Gap.

For example, 9s binary form is 1001, the gap is 2.
135.1 Thoughts

The key to solve this problem is the fact that an integer x & 1 will get the last digit of
the integer.

135.2 Java Solution

public class Solution {

public static int solution(int N) {
int max = 0;
int count = -1;
int r = 0;

while (N > 0) {
// get right most bit & shift right
r = N & 1;
N = N >> 1;

if (0 == r && count >= 0) {

count++;

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 }

if (1 == r) {
max = count > max ? count : max;
count = 0;
}
}

return max;
}

public static void main(String[] args) {

System.out.println(solution(9));
}
}

136 Number of 1 Bits

136.1 Problem

Write a function that takes an unsigned integer and returns the number of 1 bits it
has (also known as the Hamming weight).
For example, the 32-bit integer 11 has binary representation 00000000000000000000000000001011,
so the function should return 3.

136.2 Java Solution

public int hammingWeight(int n) {

int count = 0;
for(int i=1; i<33; i++){
if(getBit(n, i) == true){
count++;
}
}
return count;
}

public boolean getBit(int n, int i){

return (n & (1 << i)) != 0;
}

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137 Reverse Bits

137.1 Problem

Reverse bits of a given 32 bits unsigned integer.

For example, given input 43261596 (represented in binary as 00000010100101000001111010011100),
return 964176192 (represented in binary as 00111001011110000010100101000000).
Follow up: If this function is called many times, how would you optimize it?
Related problem: Reverse Integer

137.2 Java Solution

public int reverseBits(int n) {

for (int i = 0; i < 16; i++) {
n = swapBits(n, i, 32 - i - 1);
}

return n;
}

public int swapBits(int n, int i, int j) {

int a = (n >> i) & 1;
int b = (n >> j) & 1;

if ((a ^ b) != 0) {
return n ^= (1 << i) | (1 << j);
}

return n;
}

138 Repeated DNA Sequences

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138 Repeated DNA Sequences

138.1 Problem

All DNA is composed of a series of nucleotides abbreviated as A, C, G, and T, for

example: "ACGAATTCCG". When studying DNA, it is sometimes useful to identify
repeated sequences within the DNA.
Write a function to find all the 10-letter-long sequences (substrings) that occur more
than once in a DNA molecule.
For example, given s = "AAAAACCCCCAAAAACCCCCCAAAAAGGGTTT", re-
turn: ["AAAAACCCCC", "CCCCCAAAAA"].

138.2 Java Solution

The key to solve this problem is that each of the 4 nucleotides can be stored in 2 bits.
So the 10-letter-long sequence can be converted to 20-bits-long integer. The following
is a Java solution. You may use an example to manually execute the program and see
how it works.
public List<String> findRepeatedDnaSequences(String s) {
List<String> result = new ArrayList<String>();

int len = s.length();

if (len < 10) {
return result;
}

Map<Character, Integer> map = new HashMap<Character, Integer>();

map.put(A, 0);
map.put(C, 1);
map.put(G, 2);
map.put(T, 3);

Set<Integer> temp = new HashSet<Integer>();

Set<Integer> added = new HashSet<Integer>();

int hash = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < len; i++) {
if (i < 9) {
//each ACGT fit 2 bits, so left shift 2
hash = (hash << 2) + map.get(s.charAt(i));
} else {
hash = (hash << 2) + map.get(s.charAt(i));
//make length of hash to be 20
hash = hash & (1 << 20) - 1;

if (temp.contains(hash) && !added.contains(hash)) {

result.add(s.substring(i - 9, i + 1));
added.add(hash); //track added
} else {

226 | 247 Program Creek

 temp.add(hash);
}
}

return result;
}

139 Bitwise AND of Numbers Range

Given a range [m, n] where 0 <= m <= n <= 2147483647, return the bitwise AND of
all numbers in this range, inclusive. For example, given the range [5, 7], you should
return 4.
139.1 Java Solution

The key to solve this problem is bitwise AND consecutive numbers. You can use the
following example to walk through the code.
8 4 2 1
---------------
5 | 0 1 0 1
6 | 0 1 1 0
7 | 0 1 1 1

public int rangeBitwiseAnd(int m, int n) {

while (n > m) {
n = n & n - 1;
}
return m & n;
}

140 Permutations

Given a collection of numbers, return all possible permutations.

For example,

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140 Permutations

[1,2,3] have the following permutations:

[1,2,3], [1,3,2], [2,1,3], [2,3,1], [3,1,2], and [3,2,1].

140.1 Java Solution 1

We can get all permutations by the following steps:

[1]
[2, 1]
[1, 2]
[3, 2, 1]
[2, 3, 1]
[2, 1, 3]
[3, 1, 2]
[1, 3, 2]
[1, 2, 3]

Loop through the array, in each iteration, a new number is added to different loca-
tions of results of previous iteration. Start from an empty List.
public ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> permute(int[] num) {
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();

//start from an empty list

result.add(new ArrayList<Integer>());

for (int i = 0; i < num.length; i++) {

//list of list in current iteration of the array num
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> current = new
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();

for (ArrayList<Integer> l : result) {

// # of locations to insert is largest index + 1
for (int j = 0; j < l.size()+1; j++) {
// + add num[i] to different locations
l.add(j, num[i]);

ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>(l);

current.add(temp);

//System.out.println(temp);

// - remove num[i] add

l.remove(j);
}
}

result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>(current);

}

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 return result;
}

140.2 Java Solution 2

We can also recursively solve this problem. Swap each element with each element
after it.
public ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> permute(int[] num) {
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();
permute(num, 0, result);
return result;
}

void permute(int[] num, int start, ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result) {

if (start >= num.length) {

ArrayList<Integer> item = convertArrayToList(num);
result.add(item);
}

for (int j = start; j <= num.length - 1; j++) {

swap(num, start, j);
permute(num, start + 1, result);
swap(num, start, j);
}
}

private ArrayList<Integer> convertArrayToList(int[] num) {

ArrayList<Integer> item = new ArrayList<Integer>();
for (int h = 0; h < num.length; h++) {
item.add(num[h]);
}
return item;
}

private void swap(int[] a, int i, int j) {

int temp = a[i];
a[i] = a[j];
a[j] = temp;
}

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141 Permutations II

141 Permutations II

Given a collection of numbers that might contain duplicates, return all possible
unique permutations.
For example, [1,1,2] have the following unique permutations:
[1,1,2], [1,2,1], and [2,1,1].

141.1 Basic Idea

For each number in the array, swap it with every element after it. To avoid duplicate,
we need to check the existing sequence first.

141.2 Java Solution 1

public ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> permuteUnique(int[] num) {

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();
permuteUnique(num, 0, result);
return result;
}

private void permuteUnique(int[] num, int start,

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result) {

if (start >= num.length ) {

ArrayList<Integer> item = convertArrayToList(num);
result.add(item);
}

for (int j = start; j <= num.length-1; j++) {

if (containsDuplicate(num, start, j)) {
swap(num, start, j);
permuteUnique(num, start + 1, result);
swap(num, start, j);
}
}
}

private ArrayList<Integer> convertArrayToList(int[] num) {

ArrayList<Integer> item = new ArrayList<Integer>();
for (int h = 0; h < num.length; h++) {
item.add(num[h]);
}
return item;
}

private boolean containsDuplicate(int[] arr, int start, int end) {

230 | 247 Program Creek

 for (int i = start; i <= end-1; i++) {
if (arr[i] == arr[end]) {
return false;
}
}
return true;
}

private void swap(int[] a, int i, int j) {

int temp = a[i];
a[i] = a[j];
a[j] = temp;
}

141.3 Java Solution 2

Use set to maintain uniqueness:

public static ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> permuteUnique(int[] num) {
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> returnList = new
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();
returnList.add(new ArrayList<Integer>());

for (int i = 0; i < num.length; i++) {

Set<ArrayList<Integer>> currentSet = new HashSet<ArrayList<Integer>>();
for (List<Integer> l : returnList) {
for (int j = 0; j < l.size() + 1; j++) {
l.add(j, num[i]);
ArrayList<Integer> T = new ArrayList<Integer>(l);
l.remove(j);
currentSet.add(T);
}
}
returnList = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>(currentSet);
}

return returnList;
}

Thanks to Milan for such a simple solution! 142 Permutation

Sequence

The set [1,2,3,. . . ,n] contains a total of n! unique permutations.

231 | 247
142 Permutation Sequence

By listing and labeling all of the permutations in order, We get the following se-
quence (ie, for n = 3):
"123"
"132"
"213"
"231"
"312"
"321"

Given n and k, return the kth permutation sequence.

Note: Given n will be between 1 and 9 inclusive.

142.1 Thoughts

Naively loop through all cases will not work.

142.2 Java Solution 1

public class Solution {

public String getPermutation(int n, int k) {

// initialize all numbers

ArrayList<Integer> numberList = new ArrayList<Integer>();
for (int i = 1; i <= n; i++) {
numberList.add(i);
}

// change k to be index
k--;

// set factorial of n
int mod = 1;
for (int i = 1; i <= n; i++) {
mod = mod * i;
}

String result = "";

// find sequence
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
mod = mod / (n - i);
// find the right number(curIndex) of
int curIndex = k / mod;
// update k
k = k % mod;

232 | 247 Program Creek

 // get number according to curIndex
result += numberList.get(curIndex);
// remove from list
numberList.remove(curIndex);
}

return result.toString();
}
}

142.3 Java Solution 2

public class Solution {

public String getPermutation(int n, int k) {
boolean[] output = new boolean[n];
StringBuilder buf = new StringBuilder("");

int[] res = new int[n];

res[0] = 1;

for (int i = 1; i < n; i++)

res[i] = res[i - 1] * i;

for (int i = n - 1; i >= 0; i--) {

int s = 1;

while (k > res[i]) {

s++;
k = k - res[i];
}

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

if (j + 1 <= s && output[j]) {
s++;
}
}

output[s - 1] = true;
buf.append(Integer.toString(s));
}

return buf.toString();
}
}

233 | 247
143 Generate Parentheses

143 Generate Parentheses

Given n pairs of parentheses, write a function to generate all combinations of well-

formed parentheses.
For example, given n = 3, a solution set is:
"((()))", "(()())", "(())()", "()(())", "()()()"

143.1 Java Solution

Read the following solution, give n=2, walk though the code. Hopefully you will
quickly get an idea.
public List<String> generateParenthesis(int n) {
ArrayList<String> result = new ArrayList<String>();
ArrayList<Integer> diff = new ArrayList<Integer>();

result.add("");
diff.add(0);

for (int i = 0; i < 2 * n; i++) {

ArrayList<String> temp1 = new ArrayList<String>();
ArrayList<Integer> temp2 = new ArrayList<Integer>();

for (int j = 0; j < result.size(); j++) {

String s = result.get(j);
int k = diff.get(j);

if (i < 2 * n - 1) {
temp1.add(s + "(");
temp2.add(k + 1);
}

if (k > 0 && i < 2 * n - 1 || k == 1 && i == 2 * n - 1) {

temp1.add(s + ")");
temp2.add(k - 1);
}
}

result = new ArrayList<String>(temp1);

diff = new ArrayList<Integer>(temp2);
}

return result;

234 | 247 Program Creek

}

Solution is provided first now. I will come back and draw a diagram to explain the

solution. 144 Combination Sum

Given a set of candidate numbers (C) and a target number (T), find all unique combi-
nations in C where the candidate numbers sums to T. The same repeated number may
be chosen from C unlimited number of times.
Note: All numbers (including target) will be positive integers. Elements in a combi-
nation (a1, a2, ... , ak) must be in non-descending order. (ie, a1 <= a2 <= ... <= ak). The
solution set must not contain duplicate combinations. For example, given candidate
set 2,3,6,7 and target 7, A solution set is:
[7]
[2, 2, 3]

144.1 Thoughts

The first impression of this problem should be depth-first search(DFS). To solve DFS
problem, recursion is a normal implementation.
Note that the candidates array is not sorted, we need to sort it first.

144.2 Java Solution

public ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> combinationSum(int[] candidates, int

target) {
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();

if(candidates == null || candidates.length == 0) return result;

ArrayList<Integer> current = new ArrayList<Integer>();

Arrays.sort(candidates);

combinationSum(candidates, target, 0, current, result);

return result;
}

public void combinationSum(int[] candidates, int target, int j,

ArrayList<Integer> curr, ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result){

235 | 247
 if(target == 0){
ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>(curr);
result.add(temp);
return;
}

for(int i=j; i<candidates.length; i++){

if(target < candidates[i])
return;

curr.add(candidates[i]);
combinationSum(candidates, target - candidates[i], i, curr, result);
curr.remove(curr.size()-1);
}
}

145 Combination Sum II

Given a collection of candidate numbers (C) and a target number (T), find all unique
combinations in C where the candidate numbers sums to T. Each number in C may
only be used ONCE in the combination.
Note: 1) All numbers (including target) will be positive integers. 2) Elements in a
combination (a1, a2, . . . , ak) must be in non-descending order. (ie, a1 a2 . . .
ak). 3) The solution set must not contain duplicate combinations.
145.1 Java Solution

This problem is an extension of Combination Sum. The difference is one number in

the array can only be used ONCE.
public List<ArrayList<Integer>> combinationSum2(int[] num, int target) {
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();
if(num == null || num.length == 0)
return result;

Arrays.sort(num);

ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>();

getCombination(num, 0, target, temp, result);

HashSet<ArrayList<Integer>> set = new HashSet<ArrayList<Integer>>(result);

//remove duplicate lists

result.clear();

236 | 247
 result.addAll(set);

return result;
}

public void getCombination(int[] num, int start, int target,

ArrayList<Integer> temp, ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result){
if(target == 0){
ArrayList<Integer> t = new ArrayList<Integer>(temp);
result.add(t);
return;
}

for(int i=start; i<num.length; i++){

if(target < num[i])
continue;

temp.add(num[i]);
getCombination(num, i+1, target-num[i], temp, result);
temp.remove(temp.size()-1);
}
}

146 Combination Sum III

Find all possible combinations of k numbers that add up to a number n, given that
only numbers from 1 to 9 can be used and each combination should be a unique set
of numbers.
Ensure that numbers within the set are sorted in ascending order.
Example 1: Input: k = 3, n = 7 Output: [[1,2,4]] Example 2: Input: k = 3, n = 9
Output: [[1,2,6], [1,3,5], [2,3,4]]
146.1 Analysis

Related problems: Combination Sum, Combination Sum II.

146.2 Java Solution

public ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> combinationSum3(int k, int n) {

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();
ArrayList<Integer> list = new ArrayList<Integer>();
dfs(result, 1, n, list, k);

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 return result;
}

public void dfs(ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result, int start, int sum,

ArrayList<Integer> list, int k){
if(sum==0 && list.size()==k){
ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>();
temp.addAll(list);
result.add(temp);
}

for(int i=start; i<=9; i++){

if(sum-i<0) break;
if(list.size()>k) break;

list.add(i);
dfs(result, i+1, sum-i, list, k);
list.remove(list.size()-1);
}
}

147 Combinations

147.1 Problem

Given two integers n and k, return all possible combinations of k numbers out of 1 ...
n.
For example, if n = 4 and k = 2, a solution is:
[
[2,4],
[3,4],
[2,3],
[1,2],
[1,3],
[1,4],
]

147.2 Java Solution 1 (Recursion)

This is my naive solution. It passed the online judge. I first initialize a list with only
one element, and then recursively add available elements to it.

238 | 247
 147 Combinations

public ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> combine(int n, int k) {

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();

//illegal case
if (k > n) {
return null;
//if k==n
} else if (k == n) {
ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>();
for (int i = 1; i <= n; i++) {
temp.add(i);
}
result.add(temp);
return result;
//if k==1
} else if (k == 1) {

for (int i = 1; i <= n; i++) {

ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>();
temp.add(i);
result.add(temp);
}

return result;
}

//for normal cases, initialize a list with one element

for (int i = 1; i <= n - k + 1; i++) {
ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>();
temp.add(i);
result.add(temp);
}

//recursively add more elements

combine(n, k, result);

return result;
}

public void combine(int n, int k, ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result) {

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> prevResult = new
ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();
prevResult.addAll(result);

if(result.get(0).size() == k) return;

result.clear();
for (ArrayList<Integer> one : prevResult) {

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 for (int i = 1; i <= n; i++) {
if (i > one.get(one.size() - 1)) {
ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>();
temp.addAll(one);
temp.add(i);
result.add(temp);
}
}
}

combine(n, k, result);
}

147.3 Java Solution 2 - DFS

public ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> combine(int n, int k) {

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> result = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>>();

if (n <= 0 || n < k)
return result;

ArrayList<Integer> item = new ArrayList<Integer>();

dfs(n, k, 1, item, result); // because it need to begin from 1

return result;
}

private void dfs(int n, int k, int start, ArrayList<Integer> item,

ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer>> res) {
if (item.size() == k) {
res.add(new ArrayList<Integer>(item));
return;
}

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

item.add(i);
dfs(n, k, i + 1, item, res);
item.remove(item.size() - 1);
}
}

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 148 Letter Combinations of a Phone Number

148 Letter Combinations of a Phone

Number

Given a digit string, return all possible letter combinations that the number could
represent. (Check out your cellphone to see the mappings) Input:Digit string "23",
Output: ["ad", "ae", "af", "bd", "be", "bf", "cd", "ce", "cf"].
148.1 Analysis

This problem can be solves by a typical DFS algorithm. DFS problems are very similar
and can be solved by using a simple recursion. Check out the index page to see other
DFS problems.

148.2 Java Solution

public List<String> letterCombinations(String digits) {

HashMap<Integer, String> map = new HashMap<Integer, String>();
map.put(2, "abc");
map.put(3, "def");
map.put(4, "ghi");
map.put(5, "jkl");
map.put(6, "mno");
map.put(7, "pqrs");
map.put(8, "tuv");
map.put(9, "wxyz");
map.put(0, "");

ArrayList<String> result = new ArrayList<String>();

if(digits == null || digits.length() == 0)

return result;

ArrayList<Character> temp = new ArrayList<Character>();

getString(digits, temp, result, map);

return result;
}

public void getString(String digits, ArrayList<Character> temp,

ArrayList<String> result, HashMap<Integer, String> map){
if(digits.length() == 0){
char[] arr = new char[temp.size()];
for(int i=0; i<temp.size(); i++){
arr[i] = temp.get(i);
}
result.add(String.valueOf(arr));

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 return;
}

Integer curr = Integer.valueOf(digits.substring(0,1));

String letters = map.get(curr);
for(int i=0; i<letters.length(); i++){
temp.add(letters.charAt(i));
getString(digits.substring(1), temp, result, map);
temp.remove(temp.size()-1);
}
}

149 Reverse Integer

LeetCode - Reverse Integer:

Reverse digits of an integer. Example1: x = 123, return 321 Example2: x = -123, return
-321

149.1 Naive Method

We can convert the integer to a string/char array, reverse the order, and convert the
string/char array back to an integer. However, this will require extra space for the
string. It doesnt seem to be the right way, if you come with such a solution.

149.2 Efficient Approach

Actually, this can be done by using the following code.

public int reverse(int x) {
//flag marks if x is negative
boolean flag = false;
if (x < 0) {
x = 0 - x;
flag = true;
}

int res = 0;
int p = x;

while (p > 0) {
int mod = p % 10;
p = p / 10;

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 res = res * 10 + mod;
}

if (flag) {
res = 0 - res;
}

return res;
}

149.3 Succinct Solution

This solution is from Sherry, it is succinct and it is pretty.

public int reverse(int x) {
int rev = 0;
while(x != 0){
rev = rev*10 + x%10;
x = x/10;
}

return rev;
}

149.4 Handle Out of Range Problem

As we form a new integer, it is possible that the number is out of range. We can use
the following code to assign the newly formed integer. When it is out of range, throw
an exception.
try{
result = ...;
}catch(InputMismatchException exception){
System.out.println("This is not an integer");
}

Please leave your comment if there is any better solutions.

150 Palindrome Number

Determine whether an integer is a palindrome. Do this without extra space.

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150.1 Thoughts

Problems related with numbers are frequently solved by / and

Note: no extra space here means do not convert the integer to string, since string
will be a copy of the integer and take extra space. The space take by div, left, and right
can be ignored.

150.2 Java Solution

public class Solution {

public boolean isPalindrome(int x) {
//negative numbers are not palindrome
if (x < 0)
return false;

// initialize how many zeros

int div = 1;
while (x / div >= 10) {
div *= 10;
}

while (x != 0) {
int left = x / div;
int right = x % 10;

if (left != right)
return false;

x = (x % div) / 10;
div /= 100;
}

return true;
}
}

151 Pow(x, n)

Problem:
Implement pow(x, n).
This is a great example to illustrate how to solve a problem during a technical in-
terview. The first and second solution exceeds time limit; the third and fourth are

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 151 Pow(x, n)

accepted.

151.1 Naive Method

First of all, assuming n is not negative, to calculate x to the power of n, we can simply
multiply x n times, i.e., x * x * ... * x. The time complexity is O(n). The implementation
is as simple as:
public class Solution {
public double pow(double x, int n) {
if(x == 0) return 0;
if(n == 0) return 1;

double result=1;
for(int i=1; i<=n; i++){
result = result * x;
}

return result;
}
}

Now we should think about how to do better than O(n).

151.2 Recursive Method

Naturally, we next may think how to do it in O(logn). We have a relation that xn =

x(n/2) * x(n/2) * x(n
public static double pow(double x, int n) {
if(n == 0)
return 1;

if(n == 1)
return x;

int half = n/2;

int remainder = n%2;

if(n % 2 ==1 && x < 0 && n < 0)

return - 1/(pow(-x, half) * pow(-x, half) * pow(-x, remainder));
else if (n < 0)
return 1/(pow(x, -half) * pow(x, -half) * pow(x, -remainder));
else
return (pow(x, half) * pow(x, half) * pow(x, remainder));
}

Program Creek 245 | 247

151 Pow(x, n)

In this solution, we can handle cases that x <0 and n <0. This solution actually takes
more time than the first solution. Why?

151.3 Accepted Solution

The accepted solution is also recursive, but does division first. Time complexity is
O(nlog(n)). The key part of solving this problem is the while loop.
public double pow(double x, int n) {
if (n == 0)
return 1;
if (n == 1)
return x;

int pn = n > 0 ? n : -n;// positive n

int pn2 = pn;

double px = x > 0 ? x : -x;// positive x

double result = px;

int k = 1;
//the key part of solving this problem
while (pn / 2 > 0) {
result = result * result;
pn = pn / 2;
k = k * 2;
}

result = result * pow(px, pn2 - k);

// handle negative result

if (x < 0 && n % 2 == 1)
result = -result;

// handle negative power

if (n < 0)
result = 1 / result;

return result;
}

151.4 Best Solution

The most understandable solution I have found so far.

public double power(double x, int n) {
if (n == 0)

246 | 247 Program Creek

 151 Pow(x, n)

return 1;

double v = power(x, n / 2);

if (n % 2 == 0) {
return v * v;
} else {
return v * v * x;
}
}

public double pow(double x, int n) {

if (n < 0) {
return 1 / power(x, -n);
} else {
return power(x, n);
}
}

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