Greedy Algorithms - Largest Number (Arrange to Form Biggest)
The following code attempts to form the largest number from a list of integers. Which line contains a subtle bug that causes incorrect output on inputs like [0, 0, 0]?
The following code attempts to form the largest number from a list of integers. Which line contains a subtle bug that causes incorrect output on inputs like [0, 0, 0]?
medium🐞 Bug Identification Q14 of Q15
Step-by-Step Solution
Solution:
Step 1: Trace output for input [0,0,0]
After sorting, nums_str is ['0', '0', '0'], concatenation is '000'.Step 2: Identify missing check for all zeros
Without checking if first element is '0', the function returns '000' instead of '0'.Final Answer:
Option A -> Option AQuick Check:
Adding a check to return '0' if nums_str[0] == '0' fixes the bug [OK]
Quick Trick: Check if first string is '0' to handle all-zero case [OK]
Common Mistakes:
MISTAKES- Forgetting all-zero check
- Incorrect comparator logic
- Sorting without custom comparator
Trap Explanation:
PITFALL- The code looks correct but misses the edge case of all zeros, causing wrong output format.
Interviewer Note:
CONTEXT- Tests attention to edge cases and subtle output correctness
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