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    LeetCode link: 53. Maximum Subarray, difficulty: Medium.

    Given an integer array nums, find the subarray with the largest sum, and return its sum.

    Example 1:

    Input: nums = [-2,1,-3,4,-1,2,1,-5,4]

    Output: 6

    Explanation:

    The subarray [4,-1,2,1] has the largest sum 6.

    Example 2:

    Input: nums = [1]

    Output: 1

    Explanation: The subarray [1] has the largest sum 1.

    Example 3:

    Input: nums = [5,4,-1,7,8]

    Output: 23

    Explanation:

    The subarray [5,4,-1,7,8] has the largest sum 23.

    Constraints:

    • 1 <= nums.length <= 10^5
    • -10^4 <= nums[i] <= 10^4

    Intuition
    PreviousNext

    • This problem can be solved by using Greedy Algorithm (please see solution 2), yet here we will use another way.
    • For nums[i]:
      1. If the previous sum is negative, we can discard previous sum;
      2. If the previous sum is positive, we can add previous sum to the current sum.
    • Therefore, it meets the characteristics of a dynamic programming problem.

    Pattern of "Dynamic Programming"

    "Dynamic Programming" requires the use of the dp array to store the results. The value of dp[i][j] can be converted from its previous (or multiple) values ​​through a formula. Therefore, the value of dp[i][j] is derived step by step, and it is related to the previous dp record value.

    "Dynamic programming" is divided into five steps

    1. Determine the meaning of each value of the array dp.
    2. Initialize the value of the array dp.
    3. Fill in the dp grid data in order according to an example.
    4. Based on the dp grid data, derive the recursive formula.
    5. Write a program and print the dp array. If it is not as expected, adjust it.

    Detailed description of these five steps

    1. Determine the meaning of each value of the array dp.
      • First determine whether dp is a one-dimensional array or a two-dimensional array. A one-dimensional rolling array means that the values ​​of the array are overwritten at each iteration. Most of the time, using one-dimensional rolling array instead of two-dimensional array can simplify the code; but for some problems, such as operating "two swappable arrays", for the sake of ease of understanding, it is better to use two-dimensional array.
      • Try to use the meaning of the return value required by the problem as the meaning of dp[i] (one-dimensional) or dp[i][j] (two-dimensional). It works about 60% of the time. If it doesn't work, try other meanings.
      • Try to save more information in the design. Repeated information only needs to be saved once in a dp[i].
      • Use simplified meanings. If the problem can be solved with boolean value, don't use numeric value.
    2. Initialize the value of the array dp. The value of dp involves two levels:
      1. The length of dp. Usually: condition array length plus 1 or condition array length.
      2. The value of dp[i] or dp[i][j]. dp[0] or dp[0][0] sometimes requires special treatment.
    3. Fill in the dp grid data in order according to an example.
      • The "recursive formula" is the core of the "dynamic programming" algorithm. But the "recursive formula" is obscure. If you want to get it, you need to make a table and use data to inspire yourself.
      • If the original example is not good enough, you need to redesign one yourself.
      • According to the example, fill in the dp grid data "in order", which is very important because it determines the traversal order of the code.
      • Most of the time, from left to right, from top to bottom. But sometimes it is necessary to traverse from right to left, from bottom to top, from the middle to the right (or left), such as the "palindrome" problems. Sometimes, it is necessary to traverse a line twice, first forward and then backward.
      • When the order is determined correctly, the starting point is determined. Starting from the starting point, fill in the dp grid data "in order". This order is also the order in which the program processes.
      • In this process, you will get inspiration to write a "recursive formula". If you can already derive the formula, you do not need to complete the grid.
    4. Based on the dp grid data, derive the recursive formula.
      • There are three special positions to pay attention to: dp[i - 1][j - 1], dp[i - 1][j] and dp[i][j - 1], the current dp[i][j] often depends on them.
      • When operating "two swappable arrays", due to symmetry, we may need to use dp[i - 1][j] and dp[i][j - 1] at the same time.
    5. Write a program and print the dp array. If it is not as expected, adjust it.
      • Focus on analyzing those values that are not as expected.

    After reading the above, do you feel that "dynamic programming" is not that difficult? Try to solve this problem. 🤗

    Step-by-Step Solution

    1. Determine the meaning of the dp[i]
      • Imagine that dp[i] represents the largest sum at index i. Is this okay?
        Click to view the answer

        dp[i + 1] cannot be calculated by dp[i]. So we have to change the meaning.

    2. How to design it?
      Click to view the answer

      If dp[i] represents the current sum at index i, dp[i + 1] can be calculated by dp[i]. Finally, we can see that the maximum sum is recorded in the current sum array.

    3. Determine the dp array's initial value

      nums = [-2,  1, -3,  4, -1,  2,  1, -5,  4]
dp   = [-2,  1, -3,  4, -1,  2,  1, -5,  4]

    4. Fill in the dp grid data "in order" according to an example.

      nums = [-2,  1, -3,  4, -1,  2,  1, -5,  4]
dp   = [-2,  1,  N,  N,  N,  N,  N,  N,  N] # N means don't pay attention to it now
dp   = [-2,  1, -2,  N,  N,  N,  N,  N,  N]
dp   = [-2,  1, -2,  4,  N,  N,  N,  N,  N]
dp   = [-2,  1, -2,  4,  3,  N,  N,  N,  N]
dp   = [-2,  1, -2,  4,  3,  5,  N,  N,  N]
dp   = [-2,  1, -2,  4,  3,  5,  6,  N,  N]
dp   = [-2,  1, -2,  4,  3,  5,  6,  1,  N]
dp   = [-2,  1, -2,  4,  3,  5,  6,  1,  5]

    5. Based on the dp grid data, derive the "recursive formula".

      dp[i] = max(nums[i], dp[i - 1] + nums[i])

    6. Write a program and print the dp array. If it is not as expected, adjust it.

    Complexity

    Time complexity

    O(n)

    Space complexity

    O(n)

    Solution in languages: Python Java JavaScript Go Ruby C# C++

    Python # 

    class Solution:
    def maxSubArray(self, nums: List[int]) -> int:
        dp = nums.copy()

        for i in range(1, len(dp)):
            dp[i] = max(nums[i], dp[i - 1] + nums[i])

        return max(dp)

    Java # 

    class Solution {
    public int maxSubArray(int[] nums) {
        var dp = nums.clone();

        for (var i = 1; i < dp.length; i++) {
            dp[i] = Math.max(nums[i], dp[i - 1] + nums[i]);
        }

        return IntStream.of(dp).max().getAsInt(); // if you want to beat 99%, refer to C# soluiton's comment 
    }
}

    JavaScript # 

    var maxSubArray = function (nums) {
  const dp = [...nums]

  for (let i = 1; i < dp.length; i++) {
    dp[i] = Math.max(nums[i], dp[i - 1] + nums[i])
  }

  return Math.max(...dp)
};

    Go # 

    func maxSubArray(nums []int) int {
    dp := slices.Clone(nums)

    for i := 1; i < len(nums); i++ {
        dp[i] = max(nums[i], dp[i - 1] + nums[i])
    }

    return slices.Max(dp)
}

    Ruby # 

    def max_sub_array(nums)
  dp = nums.clone

  (1...dp.size).each do |i|
    dp[i] = [ nums[i], dp[i - 1] + nums[i] ].max
  end

  dp.max
end

    C# # 

    public class Solution
{
    public int MaxSubArray(int[] nums)
    {
        var dp = (int[])nums.Clone();

        for (var i = 1; i < dp.Length; i++)
        {
            dp[i] = Math.Max(nums[i], dp[i - 1] + nums[i]);
        }

        return dp.Max(); // if you want to beat 99%, you can use a variable to collect the maximum value: `if (dp[i] > result) result = dp[i];`
    }
}

    C++ # 

    class Solution {
public:
    int maxSubArray(vector<int>& nums) {
        auto dp = nums;

        for (auto i = 1; i < dp.size(); i++) {
            dp[i] = max(nums[i], dp[i - 1] + nums[i]);
        }

        return *max_element(dp.begin(), dp.end());
    }
};
    Solution in languages: Python Java JavaScript Go Ruby C# C++

    Other languages

    Welcome to contribute code to LeetCode.blog GitHub -> 53. Maximum Subarray. Thanks!

    Intuition of solution 2: Greedy Algorithm (Rolling Variables)

    • The "greedy" algorithm solution and the "dynamic programming" algorithm solution for this problem are essentially the same, both are "dynamic programming", but the "greedy" algorithm here changes from using the dp one-dimensional array and then reducing one dimension to using only two variables.
    • The "greedy" algorithm here can be called "rolling variables". Just like "rolling array (one-dimensional)" corresponds to a two-dimensional array, one dimension can be reduced by rolling.

    Complexity

    Time complexity

    O(N)

    Space complexity

    O(1)

    Solution in languages: Python C++ Ruby Go JavaScript C# Java

    Python # 

    class Solution:
    def maxSubArray(self, nums: List[int]) -> int:
        result = -float('inf')
        pre_sum = 0

        for num in nums:
            pre_sum = max(pre_sum + num, num)
            result = max(result, pre_sum)

        return result

    C++ # 

    class Solution {
public:
    int maxSubArray(vector<int>& nums) {
        int result = INT_MIN;
        int pre_sum = 0;

        for (int num : nums) {
            pre_sum = max(pre_sum + num, num);
            result = max(result, pre_sum);
        }

        return result;
    }
};

    Ruby # 

    # @param {Integer[]} nums
# @return {Integer}
def max_sub_array(nums)
  result = -Float::INFINITY
  pre_sum = 0

  nums.each do |num|
    pre_sum = [pre_sum + num, num].max
    result = [result, pre_sum].max
  end

  result
end

    Go # 

    func maxSubArray(nums []int) int {
    result := math.MinInt
    preSum := 0

    for _, num := range nums {
        preSum = max(preSum + num, num)
        if preSum > result {
            result = preSum
        }
    }

    return result
}

    JavaScript # 

    /**
 * @param {number[]} nums
 * @return {number}
 */
var maxSubArray = function(nums) {
    let result = -Infinity;
    let preSum = 0;

    for (const num of nums) {
        preSum = Math.max(preSum + num, num);
        result = Math.max(result, preSum);
    }

    return result;
};

    C# # 

    public class Solution
{
    public int MaxSubArray(int[] nums)
    {
        int result = int.MinValue;
        int preSum = 0;

        foreach (int num in nums)
        {
            preSum = Math.Max(preSum + num, num);
            result = Math.Max(result, preSum);
        }

        return result;
    }
}

    Java # 

    class Solution {
    public int maxSubArray(int[] nums) {
        int result = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
        int preSum = 0;

        for (int num : nums) {
            preSum = Math.max(preSum + num, num);
            result = Math.max(result, preSum);
        }

        return result;
    }
}
    Solution in languages: Python C++ Ruby Go JavaScript C# Java

    Other languages

    Welcome to contribute code to LeetCode.blog GitHub -> 53. Maximum Subarray. Thanks!
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