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g0901_1000.s1000_minimum_cost_to_merge_stones.readme.md Maven / Gradle / Ivy

1000\. Minimum Cost to Merge Stones

Hard

There are `n` piles of `stones` arranged in a row. The ith pile has `stones[i]` stones.

A move consists of merging exactly `k` **consecutive** piles into one pile, and the cost of this move is equal to the total number of stones in these `k` piles.

Return _the minimum cost to merge all piles of stones into one pile_. If it is impossible, return `-1`.

**Example 1:**

**Input:** stones = [3,2,4,1], k = 2

**Output:** 20

**Explanation:**

We start with [3, 2, 4, 1]. 

We merge [3, 2] for a cost of 5, and we are left with [5, 4, 1].

We merge [4, 1] for a cost of 5, and we are left with [5, 5]. 

We merge [5, 5] for a cost of 10, and we are left with [10]. 

The total cost was 20, and this is the minimum possible.

**Example 2:**

**Input:** stones = [3,2,4,1], k = 3

**Output:** -1

**Explanation:** After any merge operation, there are 2 piles left, and we can't merge anymore. So the task is impossible.

**Example 3:**

**Input:** stones = [3,5,1,2,6], k = 3

**Output:** 25

**Explanation:** 

We start with [3, 5, 1, 2, 6].

We merge [5, 1, 2] for a cost of 8, and we are left with [3, 8, 6]. 

We merge [3, 8, 6] for a cost of 17, and we are left with [17]. 

The total cost was 25, and this is the minimum possible.

**Constraints:**

*   `n == stones.length`
*   `1 <= n <= 30`
*   `1 <= stones[i] <= 100`
*   `2 <= k <= 30`