Optimize Water Distribution in a Village — LeetCode 1168 Python Solution

HardLeetCode PremiumUnion FindGraphMinimum Spanning TreeHeap (Priority Queue)
Problem
#1168
Pattern
Union-Find
Reading time
4 min

The problem

There are n houses in a village. We want to supply water for all the houses by building wells and laying pipes.

Example

Input
n = 3, wells = [1,2,2], pipes = [[1,2,1],[2,3,1]]
Output
3
Explanation
The image shows the costs of connecting houses using pipes.

Python solution

Python
class Solution:
    def minCostToSupplyWater(
        self, n: int, wells: List[int], pipes: List[List[int]]
    ) -> int:
        def find(x: int) -> int:
            if p[x] != x:
                p[x] = find(p[x])
            return p[x]

        for i, w in enumerate(wells, 1):
            pipes.append([0, i, w])
        pipes.sort(key=lambda x: x[2])
        p = list(range(n + 1))
        ans = 0
        for a, b, c in pipes:
            pa, pb = find(a), find(b)
            if pa != pb:
                p[pa] = pb
                n -= 1
                ans += c
                if n == 0:
                    return ans

Complexity

MeasureComplexity
TimeO((m + n) \times \log (m + n))
SpaceO(m + n) auxiliary

Pattern: Union-Find

Merge groups and ask whether two things are connected, both in near-constant time. LeetCode 1168. Optimize Water Distribution in a Village is filed here because LeetCode tags it Union Find, which is the vocabulary this hub collects.

The union-find guide has the Python template for the pattern and the 83 LeetCode problems that use it.

Related problems

Frequently asked questions

How hard is LeetCode 1168. Optimize Water Distribution in a Village?
LeetCode 1168. Optimize Water Distribution in a Village is rated Hard on LeetCode.
What is the time complexity of LeetCode 1168. Optimize Water Distribution in a Village?
The Python solution on this page runs in O((m + n) \times \log (m + n)).
What is the space complexity of LeetCode 1168. Optimize Water Distribution in a Village?
The Python solution on this page uses O(m + n) auxiliary space.
What topics does LeetCode 1168. Optimize Water Distribution in a Village cover?
LeetCode 1168. Optimize Water Distribution in a Village is tagged Union Find, Graph, Minimum Spanning Tree and Heap (Priority Queue) on LeetCode.
Is LeetCode 1168. Optimize Water Distribution in a Village a premium problem?
Yes. LeetCode 1168. Optimize Water Distribution in a Village is a LeetCode Premium problem, so the full statement and test cases require a paid LeetCode subscription.

Stuck on problems like this in a live interview?

Stealth Interview is a desktop app for macOS and Windows. It reads the problem off your screen and returns a working solution with a step-by-step explanation and its time and space complexity — invisible to screen sharing.

Get Stealth Interview