Solving a Weekly Contest Coding Problem

Welcome to our tutorial on tackling coding problems from weekly contests! In this post, we will walk you through a specific problem, providing you with insights and strategies to enhance your problem-solving skills.

Problem Overview

This problem was the second question of the weekly contest. Here is the problem description:

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Prerequisites

Before diving into the solution, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of the following concepts:

• Data Structures: Familiarity with arrays, lists, and other data structures will be beneficial.
• Algorithms: Understanding common algorithms, especially sorting and searching, can help you devise a solution.
• Programming Language: You should be comfortable with at least one programming language, such as Python, Java, or C++.

Step-by-Step Guide to the Solution

Now, let’s break down the solution to the problem step by step.

Step 1: Understand the Problem

Read the problem description carefully. Make sure you understand what is being asked. Identify the input and output requirements, as well as any constraints.

Step 2: Plan Your Approach

Before jumping into coding, take a moment to plan your approach. Consider the following:

• What data structures will you use?
• What algorithms might be applicable?
• How will you handle edge cases?

Step 3: Write the Code

Once you have a plan, start coding! Here’s a basic structure you might follow:

def solve_problem(input_data):
    # Your code here
    return output_data

Step 4: Test Your Solution

After writing your code, it’s crucial to test it with various inputs, including edge cases. This will help ensure that your solution works correctly under all conditions.

Step 5: Optimize Your Solution

If your solution works but is not efficient, consider ways to optimize it. Look for opportunities to reduce time complexity or space complexity.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively tackle coding problems from contests. Remember, practice is key to improving your skills. Keep participating in contests and solving problems to become a better programmer!

For more coding challenges and solutions, check out this link: https://medium.com/@svardan41/leetcode-3561-resulting-string-after-adjacent-removals-stack-based-intuition-and-solution-ea090e049d7b?source=rss——data_structures-5.