Multiply Strings — LeetCode 43 Python Solution

The problem

Given two non-negative integers num1 and num2 represented as strings, return the product of num1 and num2, also represented as a string. Note: You must not use any built-in BigInteger library or convert the inputs to integer directly.

Example

Input

num1 = "2", num2 = "3"

Output

"6"

Python solution

class Solution:
    def multiply(self, num1: str, num2: str) -> str:
        if num1 == "0" or num2 == "0":
            return "0"
        m, n = len(num1), len(num2)
        arr = [0] * (m + n)
        for i in range(m - 1, -1, -1):
            a = int(num1[i])
            for j in range(n - 1, -1, -1):
                b = int(num2[j])
                arr[i + j + 1] += a * b
        for i in range(m + n - 1, 0, -1):
            arr[i - 1] += arr[i] // 10
            arr[i] %= 10
        i = 0 if arr[0] else 1
        return "".join(str(x) for x in arr[i:])

Complexity

Pattern: Math and Number Theory

Find the closed form, the invariant, or the modular identity — and skip the loop entirely. LeetCode 43. Multiply Strings is filed here on both counts: the reference solution below belongs to the algorithm family this hub collects, and LeetCode tags it Math.

The math and number theory guide has the Python template for the pattern and the 485 LeetCode problems that use it.

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