Last Stone Weight
You are given an array of integers stones where stones[i] is the weight of the ith stone.
We are playing a game with the stones. On each turn, we choose the heaviest two stones and smash them together. Suppose the heaviest two stones have weights x and y with x <= y. The result of this smash is:
- If
x == y, both stones are destroyed, and - If
x != y, the stone of weightxis destroyed, and the stone of weightyhas new weighty - x.
At the end of the game, there is at most one stone left.
Return the weight of the last remaining stone. If there are no stones left, return 0.
Example 1:
Input: stones = [2,7,4,1,8,1]
Output: 1
Explanation:
We combine 7 and 8 to get 1, so the array becomes [2,4,1,1,1].
We combine 2 and 4 to get 2, so the array becomes [2,1,1,1].
We combine 2 and 1 to get 1, so the array becomes [1,1,1].
We combine 1 and 1 to get 0, so the array becomes [1].
The last remaining stone has weight 1.
Example 2:
Input: stones = [1]
Output: 1
Explanation: There is only one stone, so it is the last remaining stone.
Examples
Example 1
Input: stones = [2,7,4,1,8,1]
Output: 1
Explanation: Smash 8 and 7 to get 1. Then 4 and 2 to get 2. Then 2 and 1 to get 1. Then 1 and 1 to get 0. Last stone is 1.
Example 2
Input: stones = [1]
Output: 1
Explanation: There is only one stone, so it is the last remaining stone.
Example 3
Input: stones = [3,3]
Output: 0
Explanation: Both stones have equal weight. Smashing them destroys both, leaving no stones. Return 0.
Constraints
- -1 <= stones.length <= 30
- -1 <= stones[i] <= 1000
Optimal Complexity
Time
O(n log n)
Space
O(n)
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