Find The Original Array of Prefix XOR Solution in C++

class Solution {
 public:
  vector findArray(vector& pref) {
    vector ans(pref.size());

    ans[0] = pref[0];
    for (int i = 1; i < ans.size(); ++i)
      ans[i] = pref[i] ^ pref[i - 1];

    return ans;
  }
};

Problem Description

Welcome to the world of prefix XOR, where numbers play hide and seek! The problem at hand is like trying to find your lost socks in a laundry basket—except instead of socks, we’re looking for an original array from a given prefix XOR array.

Imagine you have a magical box (let's call it pref) that gives you the XOR of all the elements from the start of your original array up to any index. Your task is to figure out what the original array looked like. It’s like trying to reconstruct a jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces missing, but hey, no pressure!

Approach Explanation

The approach here is as straightforward as pie (or should I say, as straightforward as a math problem can be). The first element of the original array is simply the first element of the prefix XOR array. For every subsequent element, we use the XOR operation between the current prefix value and the previous prefix value. This nifty trick allows us to peel back the layers of the prefix XOR to reveal the original array.

Time and Space Complexity

Complexity Type Complexity
Time Complexity O(n)
Space Complexity O(n)

Real-World Example

Let’s say you’re at a party, and you’re trying to figure out who brought what snack. The prefix XOR array is like a list of all the snacks that have been brought up to each point in the party. By using the XOR operation, you can deduce who brought which snack, even if some people are trying to hide their contributions.

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