Longest Mountain in Array

Considering the idea that a mountain subarray can only begin after the previous one has ended is essential to the problem because it establishes the criteria for defining distinct mountain subarrays. Here’s why this concept is important for solving the problem:

  1. Defines Boundaries: Understanding that a new mountain subarray must start after the previous one has ended helps to define clear boundaries for each mountain. It ensures that you are not mistakenly considering overlapping mountains as separate entities.

  2. Prevents Miscounting: If you were to start a new mountain subarray before the preceding one ended, you might mistakenly count overlapping or nested mountains as separate mountains, which could lead to incorrect measurements of their lengths.

  3. Aligns with Problem Constraints: The problem constraints define what constitutes a mountain in the array, with specific rules about the sequence of increasing and then decreasing values. Considering the start and end points of each mountain in line with these rules ensures that your solution adheres to the problem’s definition and constraints.

  4. Simplifies the Solution: By clearly defining what constitutes a separate mountain subarray, you can simplify the process of finding the longest such subarray. You can iterate through the array, identifying the start and end points of each mountain according to these rules, and then simply compare their lengths to find the longest one.

In summary, considering this idea helps to correctly identify and measure distinct mountain subarrays in alignment with the problem’s constraints, thereby enabling an accurate and efficient solution.

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class Solution:
    def longestMountain(self, arr: List[int]) -> int:
        n = len(arr)
        max_len = 0

        i = 1
        while i < n:
            if arr[i] > arr[i - 1]: # Start climbing
                start = i - 1
                while i < n and arr[i] > arr[i - 1]: # Continue climbing up
                    i += 1
                peak = i - 1

                if peak > start: # Check if it's a valid peak
                    while i < n and arr[i] < arr[i - 1]: # Climbing down
                        i += 1
                    end = i - 1
                    if end > peak: # Check if it's a valid mountain
                        max_len = max(max_len, end - start + 1)
                else:
                    i += 1 # Not a valid peak, keep moving
            else:
                i += 1 # Keep moving if not climbing

        return max_len

Identifying Problem Isomorphism

“Longest Mountain in Array” asks you to find the longest subarray in which the elements first increase and then decrease, creating a pattern similar to a mountain.

An approximate isomorphic problem is “Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock”. In this problem, you’re given an array where the ith element is the price of a given stock on day i. The task is to find the maximum profit you can achieve from one transaction, meaning you need to choose one day to buy one stock and another day in the future to sell that stock.

In both problems, you’re looking for a specific pattern in an array. For “Longest Mountain in Array”, you’re looking for the longest sequence that first increases and then decreases. For “Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock”, you’re looking for the largest difference between a later number and an earlier number.

“Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock” is simpler because it involves a simpler pattern: you’re only looking for the biggest difference between two numbers, with the smaller number coming first. “Longest Mountain in Array” is more complex because it involves a more complicated pattern, with numbers first increasing and then decreasing. You might want to start with “Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock” to familiarize yourself with the concept of finding patterns in an array, then tackle “Longest Mountain in Array”.

10 Prerequisite LeetCode Problems

This is a two-pointer problem where you need to find the longest contiguous subarray that resembles a mountain.

Before tackling this problem, you should get familiar with similar two-pointer and array scanning problems. Here are 10 problems to prepare:

  1. 283. Move Zeroes: This is a simple problem to get started with two-pointer techniques. You have to move all the 0’s to the end of the array while maintaining the relative order of the non-zero elements.

  2. 26. Remove Duplicates from Sorted Array: This problem involves removing duplicates in-place in a sorted array, which can be done with a two-pointer approach.

  3. 167. Two Sum II - Input array is sorted: This problem involves finding two numbers such that they add up to a specific target number in a sorted array.

  4. 15. 3Sum: This problem is about finding all unique triplets in the array which give the sum of zero.

  5. 88. Merge Sorted Array: Given two sorted integer arrays nums1 and nums2, merge nums2 into nums1 as one sorted array.

  6. 75. Sort Colors: This problem involves sorting an array of 0’s, 1’s, and 2’s in-place.

  7. 11. Container With Most Water: This problem involves finding two lines, which together with the x-axis forms a container, such that the container contains the most water.

  8. 209. Minimum Size Subarray Sum: This problem requires you to find the minimal length of a contiguous subarray of which the sum is greater than or equal to a target number.

  9. 904. Fruit Into Baskets: In this problem, you are to find the longest subarray with at most two distinct integers.

  10. 713. Subarray Product Less Than K: Your are to find the number of contiguous subarrays where the product of all the numbers in the subarray is less than k.

These cover how to use two-pointer and array scanning techniques to solve problems similar to “845. Longest Mountain in Array”.

Problem Analysis and Key Insights

What are the key insights from analyzing the problem statement?

Problem Boundary

What is the scope of this problem?

How to establish the boundary of this problem?

Problem Classification

Problem Statement:You may recall that an array arr is a mountain array if and only if:

arr.length >= 3 There exists some index i (0-indexed) with 0 < i < arr.length - 1 such that: arr[0] < arr[1] < … < arr[i - 1] < arr[i] arr[i] > arr[i + 1] > … > arr[arr.length - 1] Given an integer array arr, return the length of the longest subarray, which is a mountain. Return 0 if there is no mountain subarray.

Example 1:

Input: arr = [2,1,4,7,3,2,5] Output: 5 Explanation: The largest mountain is [1,4,7,3,2] which has length 5.

Example 2:

Input: arr = [2,2,2] Output: 0 Explanation: There is no mountain.

Constraints:

1 <= arr.length <= 104 0 <= arr[i] <= 104

Follow up:

Can you solve it using only one pass? Can you solve it in O(1) space?

Analyze the provided problem statement. Categorize it based on its domain, ignoring ‘How’ it might be solved. Identify and list out the ‘What’ components. Based on these, further classify the problem. Explain your categorizations.

Distilling the Problem to Its Core Elements

Can you identify the fundamental concept or principle this problem is based upon? Please explain. What is the simplest way you would describe this problem to someone unfamiliar with the subject? What is the core problem we are trying to solve? Can we simplify the problem statement? Can you break down the problem into its key components? What is the minimal set of operations we need to perform to solve this problem?

Visual Model of the Problem

How to visualize the problem statement for this problem?

Problem Restatement

Could you start by paraphrasing the problem statement in your own words? Try to distill the problem into its essential elements and make sure to clarify the requirements and constraints. This exercise should aid in understanding the problem better and aligning our thought process before jumping into solving it.

Abstract Representation of the Problem

Could you help me formulate an abstract representation of this problem?

Given this problem, how can we describe it in an abstract way that emphasizes the structure and key elements, without the specific real-world details?

Terminology

Are there any specialized terms, jargon, or technical concepts that are crucial to understanding this problem or solution? Could you define them and explain their role within the context of this problem?

Problem Simplification and Explanation

Could you please break down this problem into simpler terms? What are the key concepts involved and how do they interact? Can you also provide a metaphor or analogy to help me understand the problem better?

Constraints

Given the problem statement and the constraints provided, identify specific characteristics or conditions that can be exploited to our advantage in finding an efficient solution. Look for patterns or specific numerical ranges that could be useful in manipulating or interpreting the data.

What are the key insights from analyzing the constraints?

Case Analysis

Could you please provide additional examples or test cases that cover a wider range of the input space, including edge and boundary conditions? In doing so, could you also analyze each example to highlight different aspects of the problem, key constraints and potential pitfalls, as well as the reasoning behind the expected output for each case? This should help in generating key insights about the problem and ensuring the solution is robust and handles all possible scenarios.

Provide names by categorizing these cases

What are the edge cases?

What are the key insights from analyzing the different cases?

Identification of Applicable Theoretical Concepts

Can you identify any mathematical or algorithmic concepts or properties that can be applied to simplify the problem or make it more manageable? Think about the nature of the operations or manipulations required by the problem statement. Are there existing theories, metrics, or methodologies in mathematics, computer science, or related fields that can be applied to calculate, measure, or perform these operations more effectively or efficiently?

Simple Explanation

Can you explain this problem in simple terms or like you would explain to a non-technical person? Imagine you’re explaining this problem to someone without a background in programming. How would you describe it? If you had to explain this problem to a child or someone who doesn’t know anything about coding, how would you do it? In layman’s terms, how would you explain the concept of this problem? Could you provide a metaphor or everyday example to explain the idea of this problem?

Problem Breakdown and Solution Methodology

Given the problem statement, can you explain in detail how you would approach solving it? Please break down the process into smaller steps, illustrating how each step contributes to the overall solution. If applicable, consider using metaphors, analogies, or visual representations to make your explanation more intuitive. After explaining the process, can you also discuss how specific operations or changes in the problem’s parameters would affect the solution? Lastly, demonstrate the workings of your approach using one or more example cases.

Inference of Problem-Solving Approach from the Problem Statement

Can you identify the key terms or concepts in this problem and explain how they inform your approach to solving it? Please list each keyword and how it guides you towards using a specific strategy or method. How can I recognize these properties by drawing tables or diagrams?

How did you infer from the problem statement that this problem can be solved using ?

Simple Explanation of the Proof

I’m having trouble understanding the proof of this algorithm. Could you explain it in a way that’s easy to understand?

Stepwise Refinement

  1. Could you please provide a stepwise refinement of our approach to solving this problem?

  2. How can we take the high-level solution approach and distill it into more granular, actionable steps?

  3. Could you identify any parts of the problem that can be solved independently?

  4. Are there any repeatable patterns within our solution?

Solution Approach and Analysis

Given the problem statement, can you explain in detail how you would approach solving it? Please break down the process into smaller steps, illustrating how each step contributes to the overall solution. If applicable, consider using metaphors, analogies, or visual representations to make your explanation more intuitive. After explaining the process, can you also discuss how specific operations or changes in the problem’s parameters would affect the solution? Lastly, demonstrate the workings of your approach using one or more example cases.

Identify Invariant

What is the invariant in this problem?

Identify Loop Invariant

What is the loop invariant in this problem?

Thought Process

Can you explain the basic thought process and steps involved in solving this type of problem?

Explain the thought process by thinking step by step to solve this problem from the problem statement and code the final solution. Write code in Python3. What are the cues in the problem statement? What direction does it suggest in the approach to the problem? Generate insights about the problem statement.

Establishing Preconditions and Postconditions

  1. Parameters:

    • What are the inputs to the method?
    • What types are these parameters?
    • What do these parameters represent in the context of the problem?
  2. Preconditions:

    • Before this method is called, what must be true about the state of the program or the values of the parameters?
    • Are there any constraints on the input parameters?
    • Is there a specific state that the program or some part of it must be in?
  3. Method Functionality:

    • What is this method expected to do?
    • How does it interact with the inputs and the current state of the program?
  4. Postconditions:

    • After the method has been called and has returned, what is now true about the state of the program or the values of the parameters?
    • What does the return value represent or indicate?
    • What side effects, if any, does the method have?
  5. Error Handling:

    • How does the method respond if the preconditions are not met?
    • Does it throw an exception, return a special value, or do something else?

Problem Decomposition

  1. Problem Understanding:

    • Can you explain the problem in your own words? What are the key components and requirements?
  2. Initial Breakdown:

    • Start by identifying the major parts or stages of the problem. How can you break the problem into several broad subproblems?
  3. Subproblem Refinement:

    • For each subproblem identified, ask yourself if it can be further broken down. What are the smaller tasks that need to be done to solve each subproblem?
  4. Task Identification:

    • Within these smaller tasks, are there any that are repeated or very similar? Could these be generalized into a single, reusable task?
  5. Task Abstraction:

    • For each task you’ve identified, is it abstracted enough to be clear and reusable, but still makes sense in the context of the problem?
  6. Method Naming:

    • Can you give each task a simple, descriptive name that makes its purpose clear?
  7. Subproblem Interactions:

    • How do these subproblems or tasks interact with each other? In what order do they need to be performed? Are there any dependencies?

From Brute Force to Optimal Solution

Could you please begin by illustrating a brute force solution for this problem? After detailing and discussing the inefficiencies of the brute force approach, could you then guide us through the process of optimizing this solution? Please explain each step towards optimization, discussing the reasoning behind each decision made, and how it improves upon the previous solution. Also, could you show how these optimizations impact the time and space complexity of our solution?

Code Explanation and Design Decisions

  1. Identify the initial parameters and explain their significance in the context of the problem statement or the solution domain.

  2. Discuss the primary loop or iteration over the input data. What does each iteration represent in terms of the problem you’re trying to solve? How does the iteration advance or contribute to the solution?

  3. If there are conditions or branches within the loop, what do these conditions signify? Explain the logical reasoning behind the branching in the context of the problem’s constraints or requirements.

  4. If there are updates or modifications to parameters within the loop, clarify why these changes are necessary. How do these modifications reflect changes in the state of the solution or the constraints of the problem?

  5. Describe any invariant that’s maintained throughout the code, and explain how it helps meet the problem’s constraints or objectives.

  6. Discuss the significance of the final output in relation to the problem statement or solution domain. What does it represent and how does it satisfy the problem’s requirements?

Remember, the focus here is not to explain what the code does on a syntactic level, but to communicate the intent and rationale behind the code in the context of the problem being solved.

Coding Constructs

Consider the following piece of complex software code.

  1. What are the high-level problem-solving strategies or techniques being used by this code?

  2. If you had to explain the purpose of this code to a non-programmer, what would you say?

  3. Can you identify the logical elements or constructs used in this code, independent of any programming language?

  4. Could you describe the algorithmic approach used by this code in plain English?

  5. What are the key steps or operations this code is performing on the input data, and why?

  6. Can you identify the algorithmic patterns or strategies used by this code, irrespective of the specific programming language syntax?

Language Agnostic Coding Drills

Your mission is to deconstruct this code into the smallest possible learning units, each corresponding to a separate coding concept. Consider these concepts as unique coding drills that can be individually implemented and later assembled into the final solution.

  1. Dissect the code and identify each distinct concept it contains. Remember, this process should be language-agnostic and generally applicable to most modern programming languages.

  2. Once you’ve identified these coding concepts or drills, list them out in order of increasing difficulty. Provide a brief description of each concept and why it is classified at its particular difficulty level.

  3. Next, describe the problem-solving approach that would lead from the problem statement to the final solution. Think about how each of these coding drills contributes to the overall solution. Elucidate the step-by-step process involved in using these drills to solve the problem. Please refrain from writing any actual code; we’re focusing on understanding the process and strategy.

Targeted Drills in Python

Now that you’ve identified and ordered the coding concepts from a complex software code in the previous exercise, let’s focus on creating Python-based coding drills for each of those concepts.

  1. Begin by writing a separate piece of Python code that encapsulates each identified concept. These individual drills should illustrate how to implement each concept in Python. Please ensure that these are suitable even for those with a basic understanding of Python.

  2. In addition to the general concepts, identify and write coding drills for any problem-specific concepts that might be needed to create a solution. Describe why these drills are essential for our problem.

  3. Once all drills have been coded, describe how these pieces can be integrated together in the right order to solve the initial problem. Each drill should contribute to building up to the final solution.

Remember, the goal is to not only to write these drills but also to ensure that they can be cohesively assembled into one comprehensive solution.

Q&A

Similar Problems

Can you suggest 10 problems from LeetCode that require similar problem-solving strategies or use similar underlying concepts as the problem we’ve just solved? These problems can be from any domain or topic, but they should involve similar steps or techniques in the solution process. Also, please briefly explain why you consider each of these problems to be related to our original problem.