Is Find Closest Number to Zero easy or hard?

Find Closest Number to Zero is classified as an Easy problem. The challenge focuses on careful comparison logic and handling the tie-breaking rule when two numbers are equally distant from zero.

Find Closest Number to Zero Python/Java solution

In Python or Java, the solution iterates through the array and compares absolute values using Math.abs() or abs(). Update the stored result when a number is closer to zero or when two values tie but the new number is larger. The implementation runs in O(n) time with constant space.

How to solve Find Closest Number to Zero in O(n)?

Iterate through the array once while maintaining a variable storing the closest value found so far. For each number, compare abs(num) with abs(currentBest). Update the result if the new number is closer to zero or if the absolute values are equal but the number is larger. This produces the correct answer in a single O(n) pass.

What is the best approach for Find Closest Number to Zero?

The best approach is a single-pass iterative traversal of the array. Track the current closest value and update it when you find a number with a smaller absolute distance from zero. If two numbers have the same absolute value, choose the larger number. This method runs in O(n) time and uses O(1) extra space.

Is Find Closest Number to Zero asked at Google/Amazon/Meta?

Problems involving array traversal and comparison logic appear frequently in interviews at companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta. While this exact problem may vary slightly, the pattern of scanning an array and tracking a best candidate is a common interview exercise.

What data structure is used in Find Closest Number to Zero?

The problem primarily uses a simple array traversal. No additional data structures such as hash maps, heaps, or trees are required. A single variable is enough to track the current closest number during iteration.

What is the time complexity of Find Closest Number to Zero?

The optimal solution runs in O(n) time because every element in the array must be examined at least once. Each step performs constant-time operations such as absolute value calculation and comparisons. Space complexity is O(1) when implemented iteratively.

Description Hints 2 Solution Video 3:24

2239. Find Closest Number to Zero

Easy47.8% acceptance6 companies

Given an integer array nums of size n, return the number with the value closest to 0 in nums. If there are multiple answers, return the number with the largest value.

Example 1:

Input: nums = [-4,-2,1,4,8]
Output: 1
Explanation:
The distance from -4 to 0 is |-4| = 4.
The distance from -2 to 0 is |-2| = 2.
The distance from 1 to 0 is |1| = 1.
The distance from 4 to 0 is |4| = 4.
The distance from 8 to 0 is |8| = 8.
Thus, the closest number to 0 in the array is 1.

Example 2:

Input: nums = [2,-1,1]
Output: 1
Explanation: 1 and -1 are both the closest numbers to 0, so 1 being larger is returned.

Constraints:

1 <= n <= 1000
-10⁵ <= nums[i] <= 10⁵

Asked at 6 companies

Tiger Analytics Bloomberg

Google Amazon Microsoft Meta

Topics

Array

Hints open one at a time

Hint 1

Keep track of the number closest to 0 as you iterate through the array.

Hint 2

Ensure that if multiple numbers are closest to 0, you store the one with the largest value.

3:24

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