Is Maximize Expression of Three Elements easy or hard?

Maximize Expression of Three Elements is considered an Easy problem with an acceptance rate around 72%. The challenge is recognizing that only extreme values in the array affect the maximum expression, allowing a simple O(n) greedy solution.

Maximize Expression of Three Elements Python/Java solution

Most implementations follow the same pattern: iterate once through the array and update variables storing the maximum, second maximum, and minimum values. The final expression is computed after the loop. This logic translates directly to Python, Java, C++, Go, and TypeScript.

How to solve Maximize Expression of Three Elements in O(n)?

Iterate through the array while maintaining three variables: the largest value, the second largest value, and the smallest value. Update these values with simple comparisons during the scan. After the pass completes, compute the expression using these extremes to get the maximum result.

What is the best approach for Maximize Expression of Three Elements?

The optimal approach scans the array once and tracks the maximum value, the second maximum value, and the minimum value. These extreme values determine the largest possible result for the expression. This greedy strategy runs in O(n) time and uses O(1) extra space.

Is Maximize Expression of Three Elements asked at Google/Amazon/Meta?

Problems based on maximizing expressions using array extremes appear frequently in technical interviews at companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta. The exact problem number may vary, but the underlying pattern—tracking maximum and minimum values in a single pass—is a common interview technique.

What data structure is used in Maximize Expression of Three Elements?

The solution primarily uses a basic array traversal. Instead of complex data structures, the algorithm maintains a few variables to store the maximum, second maximum, and minimum values while iterating through the array.

What is the time complexity of Maximize Expression of Three Elements?

The optimal greedy solution runs in O(n) time because the array is scanned once to identify the maximum, second maximum, and minimum elements. Space complexity is O(1) since only a few variables are stored. A brute force enumeration approach would take O(n^3) time.

Description Hints 2 Solution Video 1:24

3745. Maximize Expression of Three Elements

Easy72.3% acceptance

You are given an integer array nums.

Choose three elements a, b, and c from nums at distinct indices such that the value of the expression a + b - c is maximized.

Return an integer denoting the maximum possible value of this expression.

Example 1:

Input: nums = [1,4,2,5]

Output: 8

Explanation:

We can choose a = 4, b = 5, and c = 1. The expression value is 4 + 5 - 1 = 8, which is the maximum possible.

Example 2:

Input: nums = [-2,0,5,-2,4]

Output: 11

Explanation:

We can choose a = 5, b = 4, and c = -2. The expression value is 5 + 4 - (-2) = 11, which is the maximum possible.

Constraints:

3 <= nums.length <= 100
-100 <= nums[i] <= 100

Topics

Hints open one at a time

Hint 1

a and b should be the two largest values in nums

Hint 2

c should be the smallest value in nums

1:24

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1class Solution:
2    def maximizeExpressionOfThree(self, nums: List[int]) -> int:
3        

Starter codePython 3Spaces: 4

Examples

Case 1Case 2

Input

[1,4,2,5]

Input

[-2,0,5,-2,4]

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