Which of the following problems CANNOT be solved optimally using the greedy min-heap approach similar to the Minimum Cost to Connect Sticks problem?

easy🔍 Pattern Recognition Q2 of Q15

Greedy Algorithms - Minimum Cost to Connect Sticks

AScheduling tasks to minimize total weighted completion time where order affects cost

BMerging files with sizes to minimize total merge cost where cost is sum of merged files

CFinding the shortest path in a weighted graph with non-negative edges

DFinding the minimum cost to connect ropes with given lengths

Step-by-Step Solution

Solution:

Step 1: Analyze problem types
Minimum cost to connect sticks and merging files are classic greedy min-heap problems.
Step 2: Identify non-greedy problem
Scheduling tasks with weighted completion times requires more complex DP or greedy with sorting, not min-heap merges.
Final Answer:
Option A -> Option A
Quick Check:
Scheduling with weighted completion time is not solved by min-heap merges [OK]

Quick Trick: Scheduling weighted tasks needs DP, not min-heap merges [OK]

Common Mistakes:

MISTAKES

Trap Explanation:

PITFALL

Candidates often think all cost minimization problems with merges use min-heap, but scheduling weighted tasks is different.

Interviewer Note:

CONTEXT

Tests ability to distinguish greedy min-heap applicability from similar-sounding problems

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