Leetcode #2602: Minimum Operations to Make All Array Elements Equal
In this guide, we solve Leetcode #2602 Minimum Operations to Make All Array Elements Equal 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 an array nums consisting of positive integers. You are also given an integer array queries of size m.
Quick Facts
- Difficulty: Medium
- Premium: No
- Tags: Array, Binary Search, Prefix Sum, Sorting
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: nums = [3,1,6,8], queries = [1,5]
Output: [14,10]
Explanation: For the first query we can do the following operations:
- Decrease nums[0] 2 times, so that nums = [1,1,6,8].
- Decrease nums[2] 5 times, so that nums = [1,1,1,8].
- Decrease nums[3] 7 times, so that nums = [1,1,1,1].
So the total number of operations for the first query is 2 + 5 + 7 = 14.
For the second query we can do the following operations:
- Increase nums[0] 2 times, so that nums = [5,1,6,8].
- Increase nums[1] 4 times, so that nums = [5,5,6,8].
- Decrease nums[2] 1 time, so that nums = [5,5,5,8].
- Decrease nums[3] 3 times, so that nums = [5,5,5,5].
So the total number of operations for the second query is 2 + 4 + 1 + 3 = 10.
Python Solution
class Solution:
def minOperations(self, nums: List[int], queries: List[int]) -> List[int]:
nums.sort()
s = list(accumulate(nums, initial=0))
ans = []
for x in queries:
i = bisect_left(nums, x + 1)
t = s[-1] - s[i] - (len(nums) - i) * x
i = bisect_left(nums, x)
t += x * i - s[i]
ans.append(t)
return ans
Complexity
The time complexity is O(log n) or O(n log n). The space complexity is O(1).
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.