LeetCode 3135: Equalize Strings by Adding or Removing Characters at Ends Solution

Master LeetCode problem 3135 (Equalize Strings by Adding or Removing Characters at Ends), a medium challenge, with our optimized solutions in Java, C++, and Python. Explore detailed explanations, test your code in our interactive editor, and prepare for coding interviews.

3135. Equalize Strings by Adding or Removing Characters at Ends

Medium

String Binary Search Dynamic Programming Sliding Window Hash Function

Problem Explanation

Explanation:

Given two strings s and t, we need to equalize them by adding or removing characters at the ends. We can perform the following operations:

Add a character to the start of a string
Add a character to the end of a string
Remove a character from the start of a string
Remove a character from the end of a string

To equalize the strings, we can start from both ends of the strings and compare the characters. If the characters are equal, we move towards the center. If the characters are not equal, we have two options:

Add the character from one string to the other string at the corresponding end.
Remove the character from one string.

We repeat this process until the strings are equal in length and content.

Algorithm:

Initialize two pointers i and j at the start and end of both strings.
While i < j in both strings:
- If s[i] == t[j], increment i and decrement j.
- If s[i] != t[j], we have two choices:
  - Increment i in s and leave j in t the same.
  - Increment j in t and leave i in s the same.
After the loop, the strings should be equal in length and content.

Time Complexity:

The time complexity of this algorithm is O(n), where n is the length of the longer string between s and t.

Space Complexity:

The space complexity is O(1) as we are not using any extra space proportional to the input.

: :

Solution Code

class Solution {
    public String[] equalizeStrings(String s, String t) {
        int i = 0, j = 0;
        while (i < s.length() && j < t.length()) {
            if (s.charAt(i) == t.charAt(j)) {
                i++;
                j++;
            } else if (s.length() < t.length()) {
                s = "a" + s;
                i++;
            } else {
                t = "a" + t;
                j++;
            }
        }
        while (i < s.length()) {
            s = "a" + s;
            i++;
        }
        while (j < t.length()) {
            t = "a" + t;
            j++;
        }
        return new String[]{s, t};
    }
}

Try It Yourself

Loading code editor...

Frequently Asked Questions

How to solve LeetCode 3135 (Equalize Strings by Adding or Removing Characters at Ends)?

This page provides optimized solutions for LeetCode problem 3135 (Equalize Strings by Adding or Removing Characters at Ends) in Java, C++, and Python, along with a detailed explanation and an interactive code editor to test your code.

What is the time complexity of LeetCode 3135 (Equalize Strings by Adding or Removing Characters at Ends)?

The time complexity for LeetCode 3135 (Equalize Strings by Adding or Removing Characters at Ends) varies by solution. Check the detailed explanation section for specific complexities in Java, C++, and Python implementations.

Can I run code for LeetCode 3135 on DevExCode?

Yes, DevExCode provides an interactive code editor where you can write, test, and run your code for LeetCode 3135 in Java, C++, or Python.

Back to LeetCode Solutions