Leetcode #2640: Find the Score of All Prefixes of an Array
In this guide, we solve Leetcode #2640 Find the Score of All Prefixes of an 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
We define the conversion array conver of an array arr as follows: conver[i] = arr[i] + max(arr[0..i]) where max(arr[0..i]) is the maximum value of arr[j] over 0 <= j <= i. We also define the score of an array arr as the sum of the values of the conversion array of arr.
Quick Facts
- Difficulty: Medium
- Premium: No
- Tags: Array, Prefix Sum
Intuition
Range queries become simple once we precompute cumulative sums.
We can transform subarray conditions into prefix comparisons.
Approach
Compute prefix sums and use a map to find matching prefixes.
This avoids nested loops while keeping the logic clear.
Steps:
- Compute prefix sums.
- Use a map to find valid ranges.
- Update the answer.
Example
Input: nums = [2,3,7,5,10]
Output: [4,10,24,36,56]
Explanation:
For the prefix [2], the conversion array is [4] hence the score is 4
For the prefix [2, 3], the conversion array is [4, 6] hence the score is 10
For the prefix [2, 3, 7], the conversion array is [4, 6, 14] hence the score is 24
For the prefix [2, 3, 7, 5], the conversion array is [4, 6, 14, 12] hence the score is 36
For the prefix [2, 3, 7, 5, 10], the conversion array is [4, 6, 14, 12, 20] hence the score is 56
Python Solution
class Solution:
def findPrefixScore(self, nums: List[int]) -> List[int]:
n = len(nums)
ans = [0] * n
mx = 0
for i, x in enumerate(nums):
mx = max(mx, x)
ans[i] = x + mx + (0 if i == 0 else ans[i - 1])
return ans
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.