Leetcode #1428: Leftmost Column with at Least a One
In this guide, we solve Leetcode #1428 Leftmost Column with at Least a One in Python and focus on the core idea that makes the solution efficient.
You will see the intuition, the step-by-step method, and a clean Python implementation you can use in interviews.
Problem Statement
A row-sorted binary matrix means that all elements are 0 or 1 and each row of the matrix is sorted in non-decreasing order. Given a row-sorted binary matrix binaryMatrix, return the index (0-indexed) of the leftmost column with a 1 in it.
Quick Facts
- Difficulty: Medium
- Premium: Yes
- Tags: Array, Binary Search, Interactive, Matrix
Intuition
The problem structure suggests a monotonic decision, which makes binary search a natural fit.
By halving the search space each step, we reach the answer efficiently.
Approach
Search either directly on a sorted array or on the answer space using a check function.
Each check is fast, and the logarithmic search keeps the overall runtime low.
Steps:
- Define the search bounds.
- Check the mid point condition.
- Narrow the bounds until convergence.
Example
Input: mat = [[0,0],[1,1]]
Output: 0
Python Solution
# """
# This is BinaryMatrix's API interface.
# You should not implement it, or speculate about its implementation
# """
# class BinaryMatrix(object):
# def get(self, row: int, col: int) -> int:
# def dimensions(self) -> list[]:
class Solution:
def leftMostColumnWithOne(self, binaryMatrix: "BinaryMatrix") -> int:
m, n = binaryMatrix.dimensions()
ans = n
for i in range(m):
j = bisect_left(range(n), 1, key=lambda k: binaryMatrix.get(i, k))
ans = min(ans, j)
return -1 if ans >= n else ans
Complexity
The time complexity is , where and are the number of rows and columns of the matrix, respectively. The space complexity is .
Edge Cases and Pitfalls
Watch for boundary values, empty inputs, and duplicate values where applicable. If the problem involves ordering or constraints, confirm the invariant is preserved at every step.
Summary
This Python solution focuses on the essential structure of the problem and keeps the implementation interview-friendly while meeting the constraints.