All Downloads are FREE. Search and download functionalities are using the official Maven repository.

g1801_1900.s1872_stone_game_viii.readme.md Maven / Gradle / Ivy

There is a newer version: 1.28
Show newest version
1872\. Stone Game VIII

Hard

Alice and Bob take turns playing a game, with **Alice starting first**.

There are `n` stones arranged in a row. On each player's turn, while the number of stones is **more than one**, they will do the following:

1.  Choose an integer `x > 1`, and **remove** the leftmost `x` stones from the row.
2.  Add the **sum** of the **removed** stones' values to the player's score.
3.  Place a **new stone**, whose value is equal to that sum, on the left side of the row.

The game stops when **only** **one** stone is left in the row.

The **score difference** between Alice and Bob is `(Alice's score - Bob's score)`. Alice's goal is to **maximize** the score difference, and Bob's goal is the **minimize** the score difference.

Given an integer array `stones` of length `n` where `stones[i]` represents the value of the ith stone **from the left**, return _the **score difference** between Alice and Bob if they both play **optimally**._

**Example 1:**

**Input:** stones = [-1,2,-3,4,-5]

**Output:** 5

**Explanation:**

- Alice removes the first 4 stones, adds (-1) + 2 + (-3) + 4 = 2 to her score, and places a stone of value 2 on the left. stones = [2,-5].

- Bob removes the first 2 stones, adds 2 + (-5) = -3 to his score, and places a stone of value -3 on the left. stones = [-3].

The difference between their scores is 2 - (-3) = 5. 

**Example 2:**

**Input:** stones = [7,-6,5,10,5,-2,-6]

**Output:** 13

**Explanation:**

- Alice removes all stones, adds 7 + (-6) + 5 + 10 + 5 + (-2) + (-6) = 13 to her score, and places a stone of value 13 on the left. stones = [13].

The difference between their scores is 13 - 0 = 13. 

**Example 3:**

**Input:** stones = [-10,-12]

**Output:** -22

**Explanation:** - Alice can only make one move, which is to remove both stones. She adds (-10) + (-12) = -22 to her score and places a stone of value -22 on the left. stones = [-22].

The difference between their scores is (-22) - 0 = -22. 

**Constraints:**

*   `n == stones.length`
*   2 <= n <= 105
*   -104 <= stones[i] <= 104




© 2015 - 2024 Weber Informatics LLC | Privacy Policy