Leetcode #1535: Find the Winner of an Array Game
In this guide, we solve Leetcode #1535 Find the Winner of an Array Game 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
Given an integer array arr of distinct integers and an integer k. A game will be played between the first two elements of the array (i.e.
Quick Facts
- Difficulty: Medium
- Premium: No
- Tags: Array, Simulation
Intuition
The rules are explicit, so simulating the process step by step is safest.
Careful state updates prevent subtle bugs.
Approach
Translate the rules into state updates and apply them in order.
Track the final state or aggregate as required.
Steps:
- Translate rules into state updates.
- Iterate for each step.
- Return the final state.
Example
Input: arr = [2,1,3,5,4,6,7], k = 2
Output: 5
Explanation: Let's see the rounds of the game:
Round | arr | winner | win_count
1 | [2,1,3,5,4,6,7] | 2 | 1
2 | [2,3,5,4,6,7,1] | 3 | 1
3 | [3,5,4,6,7,1,2] | 5 | 1
4 | [5,4,6,7,1,2,3] | 5 | 2
So we can see that 4 rounds will be played and 5 is the winner because it wins 2 consecutive games.
Python Solution
class Solution:
def getWinner(self, arr: List[int], k: int) -> int:
mx = arr[0]
cnt = 0
for x in arr[1:]:
if mx < x:
mx = x
cnt = 1
else:
cnt += 1
if cnt == k:
break
return mx
Complexity
The time complexity is , where is the length of the array. 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.