2016. Maximum Difference Between Increasing Elements
Description
Given a 0-indexed integer array nums
of size n
, find the maximum difference between nums[i]
and nums[j]
(i.e., nums[j] - nums[i]
), such that 0 <= i < j < n
and nums[i] < nums[j]
.
Return the maximum difference. If no such i
and j
exists, return -1
.
Example 1:
Input: nums = [7,1,5,4] Output: 4 Explanation: The maximum difference occurs with i = 1 and j = 2, nums[j] - nums[i] = 5 - 1 = 4. Note that with i = 1 and j = 0, the difference nums[j] - nums[i] = 7 - 1 = 6, but i > j, so it is not valid.
Example 2:
Input: nums = [9,4,3,2] Output: -1 Explanation: There is no i and j such that i < j and nums[i] < nums[j].
Example 3:
Input: nums = [1,5,2,10] Output: 9 Explanation: The maximum difference occurs with i = 0 and j = 3, nums[j] - nums[i] = 10 - 1 = 9.
Constraints:
n == nums.length
2 <= n <= 1000
1 <= nums[i] <= 109
Solutions
Solution 1: Maintaining Prefix Minimum
We use a variable $\textit{mi}$ to represent the minimum value among the elements currently being traversed, and a variable $\textit{ans}$ to represent the maximum difference. Initially, $\textit{mi}$ is set to $+\infty$, and $\textit{ans}$ is set to $-1$.
Traverse the array. For the current element $x$, if $x \gt \textit{mi}$, update $\textit{ans}$ to $\max(\textit{ans}, x - \textit{mi})$. Otherwise, update $\textit{mi}$ to $x$.
After the traversal, return $\textit{ans}$.
Time complexity is $O(n)$, where $n$ is the length of the array. Space complexity is $O(1)$.
Python3
class Solution:
def maximumDifference(self, nums: List[int]) -> int:
mi = inf
ans = -1
for x in nums:
if x > mi:
ans = max(ans, x - mi)
else:
mi = x
return ans
Java
class Solution {
public int maximumDifference(int[] nums) {
int mi = 1 << 30;
int ans = -1;
for (int x : nums) {
if (x > mi) {
ans = Math.max(ans, x - mi);
} else {
mi = x;
}
}
return ans;
}
}
C++
class Solution {
public:
int maximumDifference(vector<int>& nums) {
int mi = 1 << 30;
int ans = -1;
for (int& x : nums) {
if (x > mi) {
ans = max(ans, x - mi);
} else {
mi = x;
}
}
return ans;
}
};
Go
func maximumDifference(nums []int) int {
mi := 1 << 30
ans := -1
for _, x := range nums {
if mi < x {
ans = max(ans, x-mi)
} else {
mi = x
}
}
return ans
}
TypeScript
function maximumDifference(nums: number[]): number {
let [ans, mi] = [-1, Infinity];
for (const x of nums) {
if (x > mi) {
ans = Math.max(ans, x - mi);
} else {
mi = x;
}
}
return ans;
}
Rust
impl Solution {
pub fn maximum_difference(nums: Vec<i32>) -> i32 {
let mut mi = i32::MAX;
let mut ans = -1;
for &x in &nums {
if x > mi {
ans = ans.max(x - mi);
} else {
mi = x;
}
}
ans
}
}
JavaScript
/**
* @param {number[]} nums
* @return {number}
*/
var maximumDifference = function (nums) {
let [ans, mi] = [-1, Infinity];
for (const x of nums) {
if (x > mi) {
ans = Math.max(ans, x - mi);
} else {
mi = x;
}
}
return ans;
};