Sorted and Rotated Array DSA Problem Solution

Day 58/100 | #100DaysOfDSA 🔄🔍 Today’s problem: Search in Rotated Sorted Array A twist on Binary Search with a rotated array. Key idea: Even though the array is rotated, one half is always sorted. Approach: • Use binary search • Find mid element • Check which half is sorted (left or right) • Decide if target lies in the sorted half • Narrow the search accordingly Why it works: At every step, we eliminate half of the search space just like standard binary search. Time Complexity: O(log n) Space Complexity: O(1) Big takeaway: Understanding the structure of the problem helps adapt classic algorithms like binary search. Rotation doesn’t break order — it just shifts it. 🔥 Day 58 done. #100DaysOfCode #LeetCode #DSA #Algorithms #BinarySearch #Arrays #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #InterviewPrep #TechCommunity

#Day77 of my second #100DaysOfCode Finally wrapped up binary search on 1D arrays, now moving to binary search on answers. DSA • Solved Sqrt(x) (LeetCode 69) — finding the integer square root of a number without using built-in functions – Brute: iterate until square exceeds target → O(n) – Optimal: binary search on answer space → O(log n) • Key idea: instead of searching an index, we search for the answer itself • Learned how to narrow down the range based on mid² comparison Nice shift in thinking — binary search feels much more powerful now. #DSA #BinarySearch #LeetCode #Algorithms #Java #100DaysOfCode #WomenWhoCode #BuildInPublic #LearningInPublic

Day 57/100 | #100DaysOfDSA ⛰️🔍 Today’s problem: Peak Index in a Mountain Array A perfect use-case of Binary Search on a pattern. Key observation: The array increases → reaches a peak → then decreases. Approach: • Use binary search on the index • Compare mid with mid + 1 • If arr[mid] > arr[mid + 1] → we are on the decreasing side → move left • Else → we are on the increasing side → move right This guarantees we always move toward the peak. Time Complexity: O(log n) Space Complexity: O(1) Big takeaway: Binary search isn’t just for sorted arrays — it works on patterns too. Recognizing these patterns is a game changer. 🔥 Day 57 done. #100DaysOfCode #LeetCode #DSA #Algorithms #BinarySearch #Arrays #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #InterviewPrep #TechCommunity

Day 59/100 | #100DaysOfDSA 🔍⚡ Today’s problem: Single Element in a Sorted Array A clever Binary Search problem with a twist. Key observation: In a sorted array where every element appears twice except one, pairs follow a pattern. Before the single element: • First occurrence → even index • Second occurrence → odd index After the single element: • Pattern breaks Approach: • Use binary search • Check mid with its pair using index trick (mid ^ 1) • If nums[mid] == nums[mid ^ 1] → move right • Else → move left This helps pinpoint where the pattern breaks. Time Complexity: O(log n) Space Complexity: O(1) Big takeaway: Bit manipulation + pattern observation can simplify binary search problems significantly. Small tricks → big optimizations. 🔥 Day 59 done. #100DaysOfCode #LeetCode #DSA #Algorithms #BinarySearch #BitManipulation #Arrays #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #InterviewPrep #TechCommunity

📘 DSA Journey — Day 35 Today’s focus: Binary Search with index patterns. Problem solved: • Single Element in a Sorted Array (LeetCode 540) Concepts used: • Binary Search • Index parity (even/odd pattern) • Search space reduction Key takeaway: The array is sorted and every element appears twice except one. A key observation: Before the single element, pairs start at even indices After the single element, this pattern breaks. Using binary search: • If mid is even and nums[mid] == nums[mid + 1], the single element lies on the right side • Else, it lies on the left side (including mid) By leveraging this pattern, we can find the answer in O(log n) time and O(1) space. Continuing to strengthen binary search intuition and consistency in problem solving. #DSA #Java #LeetCode #CodingJourney

🚀 Day 60 of #100DaysOfCode Another recursion problem that initially feels tricky, but becomes much clearer once the pattern is understood. 🌱 Topic: Recursion / Divide & Conquer ✅ Problem Solved: LeetCode 779 – K-th Symbol in Grammar 🛠 Approach: Base Case: n == 1 → return 0 Observed that each row is divided into two halves: First half → same as previous row Second half → inverse of previous row Calculated midpoint: 2^(n-2) If k <= mid → go to left half Else → go to right half and invert result #100DaysOfCode #Day60 #DSA #Recursion #DivideAndConquer #LeetCode #Java #Algorithms #ProblemSolving #CodingJourney #Consistency

📘 DSA Journey — Day 27 Today’s focus: Binary Search on modified arrays. Problem solved: • Search in Rotated Sorted Array (LeetCode 33) Concepts used: • Binary Search • Identifying sorted halves • Conditional search space reduction Key takeaway: This problem extends binary search to a rotated sorted array, where the array is not fully sorted but divided into two sorted parts. At each step, we: • Find the mid element • Check which half (left or right) is sorted • Decide whether the target lies in the sorted half • Eliminate the other half This allows us to still achieve O(log n) time complexity. Continuing to strengthen fundamentals and problem-solving consistency. #DSA #Java #LeetCode #CodingJourney

🚀 Day 69/100 Today, I worked on an interesting problem: Reverse Degree of a String 💡 What I learned: • How to map characters using the reversed alphabet (a = 26 → z = 1) • Applying ASCII concepts for character calculations • Importance of 1-based indexing in problem-solving • Strengthened my logic-building with simple math + strings 🧠 Approach: Iterated through the string, calculated each character’s reversed value, multiplied it with its position, and summed it up. ⚡ Time Complexity: O(n) 📦 Space Complexity: O(1) ✨ Key Takeaway: Even simple problems help in sharpening fundamentals and improving problem-solving speed. Consistency is the real game changer! #Day69 #DSA #Java #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #Consistency #KeepLearning

🚀 #100DaysOfCode | Day 47 🔍 Solved: Find Minimum in Rotated Sorted Array Today I explored another interesting variation of Binary Search. Instead of searching for a target, the goal was to find the minimum element in a rotated sorted array. 💡 Key Insight: By comparing the middle element with the last element, we can determine which half contains the minimum value. Approach: ✔ Used Binary Search to achieve O(log n) time complexity ✔ Compared mid with end to identify the unsorted portion ✔ Narrowed down the search space efficiently What I Learned: This problem helped me understand how binary search can be applied beyond simple searching—especially in rotated and partially sorted arrays. #Java #DSA #LeetCode #BinarySearch #CodingJourney #ProblemSolving #TechSkills

🔥 Day 63 of #100DaysOfCode Solved – Missing Number 🔍 What I did: Calculated the expected sum of numbers from 0 to n and subtracted the actual sum of the array to find the missing number efficiently. 💡 Key Learning: Learned how to use mathematical formula (n × (n+1) / 2) Practiced optimizing from brute force to O(n) solution Improved understanding of number patterns in arrays 🎯 Takeaway: Using mathematical insights can simplify problems and eliminate the need for extra loops or space. #Day62 #LeetCode #Java #ProblemSolving #CodingJourney #100DaysOfCode #DSA