Largest Color Value in a Directed Graph — LeetCode 1857 Python Solution

HardGraphTopological SortMemoizationHash TableDynamic ProgrammingCounting
Problem
#1857
Reading time
5 min

The problem

There is a directed graph of n colored nodes and m edges. The nodes are numbered from 0 to n - 1.

Example

Input
colors = "abaca", edges = [[0,1],[0,2],[2,3],[3,4]]
Output
3
Explanation
The path 0 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 contains 3 nodes that are colored "a" (red in the above image).

Python solution

Python
class Solution:
    def largestPathValue(self, colors: str, edges: List[List[int]]) -> int:
        n = len(colors)
        indeg = [0] * n
        g = defaultdict(list)
        for a, b in edges:
            g[a].append(b)
            indeg[b] += 1
        q = deque()
        dp = [[0] * 26 for _ in range(n)]
        for i, v in enumerate(indeg):
            if v == 0:
                q.append(i)
                c = ord(colors[i]) - ord('a')
                dp[i][c] += 1
        cnt = 0
        ans = 1
        while q:
            i = q.popleft()
            cnt += 1
            for j in g[i]:
                indeg[j] -= 1
                if indeg[j] == 0:
                    q.append(j)
                c = ord(colors[j]) - ord('a')
                for k in range(26):
                    dp[j][k] = max(dp[j][k], dp[i][k] + (c == k))
                    ans = max(ans, dp[j][k])
        return -1 if cnt < n else ans

Complexity

MeasureComplexity
TimeO((n + m) \times |\Sigma|)
SpaceO(m + n \times |\Sigma|) auxiliary

Pattern: Topological Sort

Order a set of tasks so that every dependency comes before the thing that needs it. LeetCode 1857. Largest Color Value in a Directed Graph is filed here because LeetCode tags it Topological Sort, which is the vocabulary this hub collects.

The topological sort guide has the Python template for the pattern and the 32 LeetCode problems that use it.

Related problems

Frequently asked questions

How hard is LeetCode 1857. Largest Color Value in a Directed Graph?
LeetCode 1857. Largest Color Value in a Directed Graph is rated Hard on LeetCode.
What is the time complexity of LeetCode 1857. Largest Color Value in a Directed Graph?
The Python solution on this page runs in O((n + m) \times |\Sigma|).
What is the space complexity of LeetCode 1857. Largest Color Value in a Directed Graph?
The Python solution on this page uses O(m + n \times |\Sigma|) auxiliary space.
What topics does LeetCode 1857. Largest Color Value in a Directed Graph cover?
LeetCode 1857. Largest Color Value in a Directed Graph is tagged Graph, Topological Sort, Memoization, Hash Table, Dynamic Programming and Counting on LeetCode.

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