Is Reach End of Array With Max Score easy or hard?

Reach End of Array With Max Score is considered a Medium difficulty problem. The challenge comes from recognizing that a dynamic programming formulation can be simplified into a greedy prefix maximum observation.

Reach End of Array With Max Score Python/Java solution

Python implementations typically show the DP or prefix maximum greedy approach using a single pass through the array. Java solutions often highlight the greedy optimization or monotonic deque technique to achieve O(n) performance.

How to solve Reach End of Array With Max Score in O(n)?

Scan the array from left to right while maintaining the maximum value seen so far. At each step before the last index, add that maximum value to the score and update it if the current element is larger. This greedy observation removes the need for nested transitions or heaps.

What is the best approach for Reach End of Array With Max Score?

The optimal approach is a greedy prefix-maximum strategy that runs in O(n) time and O(1) space. While scanning the array, keep track of the maximum value seen so far and add it to the total score for each step toward the end. This works because the best previous index always dominates future jumps.

Is Reach End of Array With Max Score asked at Google/Amazon/Meta?

Variants of greedy array optimization and dynamic programming transitions frequently appear in interviews at companies like Google, Amazon, and Meta. The pattern of converting a DP transition into a prefix maximum greedy solution is a common interview theme.

What data structure is used in Reach End of Array With Max Score?

The optimal solution only needs simple variables to track the running maximum. Alternative implementations may use a priority queue or a monotonic deque to manage candidate indices during dynamic programming transitions.

What is the time complexity of Reach End of Array With Max Score?

The optimal solution runs in O(n) time where n is the length of the array. Each element is processed once while maintaining a running maximum. Earlier DP or priority queue approaches can take O(n log n) time due to heap operations.

Description Hints 1 Solution Video 0:31

3282. Reach End of Array With Max Score

Medium33.5% acceptance2 companies

You are given an integer array nums of length n.

Your goal is to start at index 0 and reach index n - 1. You can only jump to indices greater than your current index.

The score for a jump from index i to index j is calculated as (j - i) * nums[i].

Return the maximum possible total score by the time you reach the last index.

Example 1:

Input: nums = [1,3,1,5]

Output: 7

Explanation:

First, jump to index 1 and then jump to the last index. The final score is 1 * 1 + 2 * 3 = 7.

Example 2:

Input: nums = [4,3,1,3,2]

Output: 16

Explanation:

Jump directly to the last index. The final score is 4 * 4 = 16.

Constraints:

1 <= nums.length <= 10⁵
1 <= nums[i] <= 10⁵

Asked at 2 companies

Google Meta

Topics

Array Greedy

Hints open one at a time

Hint 1

It can be proven that from each index i, the optimal solution is to jump to the nearest index j > i such that nums[j] > nums[i].

0:31

Still stuck?Read 5 approaches, or watch a walkthrough.

Open solution

LanguageLoading editor…

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

Starter codePython 3Spaces: 4

Examples

Case 1Case 2

Input

[1,3,1,5]

Input

[4,3,1,3,2]

Your code is saved on this device.Solution