Leetcode #1979: Find Greatest Common Divisor of Array
In this guide, we solve Leetcode #1979 Find Greatest Common Divisor of Array 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 nums, return the greatest common divisor of the smallest number and largest number in nums. The greatest common divisor of two numbers is the largest positive integer that evenly divides both numbers.
Quick Facts
- Difficulty: Easy
- Premium: No
- Tags: Array, Math, Number Theory
Intuition
There is a mathematical invariant or formula that directly leads to the result.
Using math avoids unnecessary loops and reduces complexity.
Approach
Derive the formula or update rule, then compute the answer directly.
Handle edge cases like overflow or zero carefully.
Steps:
- Identify the math relationship.
- Compute the result with a loop or formula.
- Handle edge cases.
Example
Input: nums = [2,5,6,9,10]
Output: 2
Explanation:
The smallest number in nums is 2.
The largest number in nums is 10.
The greatest common divisor of 2 and 10 is 2.
Python Solution
class Solution:
def findGCD(self, nums: List[int]) -> int:
return gcd(max(nums), min(nums))
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.