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memo = { (0b001, 1, 0): True, (0b011, 2, 0): False, (0b111, 0, 3): True } Which of these inputs is consistent with this memo?

hard🔄 Reverse Engineer Q9 of Q15
Subsets & Combinations - Matchsticks to Square
Given the following memo dictionary state from the bitmask backtracking solution for n=3 matchsticks, which input list of matchsticks could have produced it? Memo keys are tuples (used_mask, curr_sum, sides_formed) with boolean values. memo = { (0b001, 1, 0): True, (0b011, 2, 0): False, (0b111, 0, 3): True } Which of these inputs is consistent with this memo?
A[1, 1, 2]
B[1, 2, 3]
C[2, 2, 2]
D[1, 1, 1]
Step-by-Step Solution
Solution:
  1. Step 1: Interpret memo states

    State (0b001, 1, 0): used first stick (index 0) with length 1, partial sum 1, 0 sides formed -> True.
  2. Step 2: Check which input matches sums

    Input [1,1,2] can produce partial sums 1 and 2 with used sticks matching memo keys, and all sticks used (0b111) with 3 sides formed.
  3. Final Answer:

    Option A -> Option A
  4. Quick Check:

    Memo states consistent with [1,1,2] sums and usage [OK]
Quick Trick: Match memo states to partial sums and used sticks [OK]
Common Mistakes:
MISTAKES
  • Ignoring bitmask meaning
  • Mismatching sums with inputs
Trap Explanation:
PITFALL
  • Candidates often fail to reason backward from memo states to input values.
Interviewer Note:
CONTEXT
  • Tests deep understanding of bitmask state representation and memoization.
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