Maximum Sum Score of Array Solution in Java

Ah, the “Maximum Sum Score of Array” problem! It’s like trying to find the best slice of pizza in a buffet where every slice looks equally delicious. You know you want the best, but how do you choose? Well, this problem is all about maximizing your score from an array of numbers, and trust me, it’s more complicated than deciding between pepperoni and veggie!

Imagine you’re at a party, and you have to choose between two types of snacks: chips and cookies. You can either eat all the chips (which are great) or just a few cookies (which are also great). The goal is to maximize your snack satisfaction. This problem is just like that, but with numbers instead of snacks.

Code Solution

Here’s the Java solution that will help you maximize your sum score:

Copy Code

class Solution {
  public long maximumSumScore(int[] nums) {
    long ans = Long.MIN_VALUE;
    long prefix = 0;
    long sum = Arrays.stream(nums).asLongStream().sum();

    for (final int num : nums) {
      prefix += num;
      ans = Math.max(ans, Math.max(prefix, sum - prefix + num));
    }

    return ans;
  }
}

Approach

The approach taken in this solution is quite straightforward yet clever. It calculates the total sum of the array and iterates through it to maintain a running prefix sum. For each element, it checks two potential maximum scores: the current prefix sum and the score obtained by subtracting the prefix from the total sum and adding the current number. The maximum of these two values is updated as the answer.

Time and Space Complexity

Complexity Type	Complexity
Time Complexity	O(n)
Space Complexity	O(1)

Real-World Example

Let’s say you’re at a buffet (again, with the food analogies!). You can either fill your plate with all the pasta (which is delicious) or just take a few bites of the dessert (which is also delicious). The goal is to maximize your satisfaction. In this problem, you’re trying to find the best way to “fill your plate” with numbers to get the maximum score.

Similar Problems

If you enjoyed this problem, you might also want to check out these related challenges:

• Two Sum Solution in Java
• Three Sum Solution in Java
• Four Sum Solution in Java