Leetcode #2358: Maximum Number of Groups Entering a Competition
In this guide, we solve Leetcode #2358 Maximum Number of Groups Entering a Competition 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
You are given a positive integer array grades which represents the grades of students in a university. You would like to enter all these students into a competition in ordered non-empty groups, such that the ordering meets the following conditions: The sum of the grades of students in the ith group is less than the sum of the grades of students in the (i + 1)th group, for all groups (except the last).
Quick Facts
- Difficulty: Medium
- Premium: No
- Tags: Greedy, Array, Math, Binary Search
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: grades = [10,6,12,7,3,5]
Output: 3
Explanation: The following is a possible way to form 3 groups of students:
- 1st group has the students with grades = [12]. Sum of grades: 12. Student count: 1
- 2nd group has the students with grades = [6,7]. Sum of grades: 6 + 7 = 13. Student count: 2
- 3rd group has the students with grades = [10,3,5]. Sum of grades: 10 + 3 + 5 = 18. Student count: 3
It can be shown that it is not possible to form more than 3 groups.
Python Solution
class Solution:
def maximumGroups(self, grades: List[int]) -> int:
n = len(grades)
return bisect_right(range(n + 1), n * 2, key=lambda x: x * x + x) - 1
Complexity
The time complexity is and the space complexity is , where is the total number of students. The space complexity is , where is the total number of students.
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.