Is Minimum Moves to Reach Target Score easy or hard?

The problem is rated Medium on LeetCode. The operations themselves are simple, but the key insight is reversing the process and applying a greedy strategy. Recognizing this optimization is what elevates the difficulty.

Minimum Moves to Reach Target Score Python/Java solution

Most implementations follow the greedy backward logic. Track the number of remaining doubles and repeatedly reduce the target using division or subtraction. This implementation fits cleanly in Python, Java, C++, C#, or JavaScript with only a few lines of code.

How to solve Minimum Moves to Reach Target Score in O(log n)?

Start from the target and simulate reverse operations. If the target is even and you still have available doubles, divide it by two. If it is odd, subtract one to make it even. Once no doubles remain, simply subtract until the value becomes 1. Each step either halves the number or decreases it by one, leading to O(log n) time.

What is the best approach for Minimum Moves to Reach Target Score?

The greedy backward strategy is the optimal approach. Instead of building from 1 to the target, you work backward from the target value. If the number is even and doubles remain, divide by two; otherwise subtract one. This reduces the value quickly and runs in O(log target) time with O(1) space.

Is Minimum Moves to Reach Target Score asked at Google/Amazon/Meta?

Greedy math problems with reverse operations frequently appear in interviews at companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta. Variations of this problem test whether candidates recognize that working backward simplifies the decision process and reduces complexity.

What data structure is used in Minimum Moves to Reach Target Score?

The optimal greedy solution does not require any complex data structure—only basic integer operations and counters. A BFS alternative uses a queue to explore reachable scores level by level, but this is less efficient for large targets.

What is the time complexity of Minimum Moves to Reach Target Score?

The optimal greedy solution runs in O(log target) time because the value is repeatedly halved whenever possible. Each halving drastically reduces the remaining work. The space complexity is O(1) since only a few variables are tracked.

2139. Minimum Moves to Reach Target Score - Practice Online

You are playing a game with integers. You start with the integer 1 and you want to reach the integer target.

In one move, you can either:

Increment the current integer by one (i.e., x = x + 1).
Double the current integer (i.e., x = 2 * x).

You can use the increment operation any number of times, however, you can only use the double operation at most maxDoubles times.

Given the two integers target and maxDoubles, return the minimum number of moves needed to reach target starting with 1.

Example 1:

Input: target = 5, maxDoubles = 0
Output: 4
Explanation: Keep incrementing by 1 until you reach target.

Example 2:

Input: target = 19, maxDoubles = 2
Output: 7
Explanation: Initially, x = 1
Increment 3 times so x = 4
Double once so x = 8
Increment once so x = 9
Double again so x = 18
Increment once so x = 19

Example 3:

Input: target = 10, maxDoubles = 4
Output: 4
Explanation: Initially, x = 1
Increment once so x = 2
Double once so x = 4
Increment once so x = 5
Double again so x = 10

Constraints:

1 <= target <= 10⁹
0 <= maxDoubles <= 100