This is a premium problem. We're working on making it available for free soon.
Use these hints if you're stuck. Try solving on your own first.
First define a function f(x) that counts the number of missing elements until x.
Then use binary search with the given function f(x) to find the kth missing element.
Solutions for this premium problem will be available for free soon.
Browse Free ProblemsWatch expert explanations and walkthroughs
Practice problems asked by these companies to ace your technical interviews.
Explore More ProblemsJot down your thoughts, approach, and key learnings
Yes, this type of problem is commonly discussed in technical interviews because it tests understanding of binary search, array indexing, and mathematical reasoning about gaps in sequences.
The problem primarily relies on arrays and index-based calculations. No additional data structures are required because the sorted property of the array enables efficient binary search directly on the input.
The optimal approach uses binary search. By calculating how many numbers are missing up to each index using a formula, you can quickly determine which half of the array contains the k-th missing number.
The array is strictly increasing and sorted, which makes it ideal for binary search. You can compute the number of missing elements up to any index and use that information to eliminate half of the search space each step.
