What is the time complexity of Categorize Box According to Criteria?

The optimal solution has a time complexity of O(1).

What data structures are used to solve Categorize Box According to Criteria?

This problem uses Math. Understanding these concepts is essential for solving this Easy problem efficiently.

What are the key insights for solving Categorize Box According to Criteria?

Insight 1: The problem involves straightforward conditional logic. We need to check multiple conditions sequentially to determine the correct category. Insight 2: Careful handling of potential integer overflow is crucial when calculating the volume. Using `long long` or similar data types in C++, Java's `long`, or Python's ability to handle large integers is important to avoid errors.

Which companies ask LeetCode 2525. Categorize Box According to Criteria in interviews?

This problem is frequently asked at Zendesk.

The problem asks you to categorize a box based on its dimensions (length, width, height) and mass. A box is considered 'Bulky' if any dimension is ≥ 10 4 or its volume (length * width * height) is ≥ 10 9 . A box is 'Heavy' if its mass is ≥ 100. The final category is determined by the combination of 'Bulky' and 'Heavy' properties: Both, Bulky, Heavy, or Neither.

Solution in python3. Solution in java. Solution in cpp. Solution in c

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Categorize Box According to Criteria - LeetCode 2525 Solution

Categorize Box According to Criteria - Complete Solution Guide

Categorize Box According to Criteria is LeetCode problem 2525, a Easy level challenge. This complete guide provides step-by-step explanations, multiple solution approaches, and optimized code in python3, java, cpp, c.

Problem Statement

Given four integers length , width , height , and mass , representing the dimensions and mass of a box, respectively, return a string representing the category of the box . The box is "Bulky" if: Any of the dimensions of the box is greater or equal to 10 4 . Or, the volume of the box is greater or equal to 10 9 . If the mass of the box is greater or equal to 100 , it is "Heavy". If the box is both "Bulky" and "Heavy" , then its category is "Both" . If the box is neither "Bulky" nor "Heavy" , the

Detailed Explanation

The problem asks you to categorize a box based on its dimensions (length, width, height) and mass. A box is considered 'Bulky' if any dimension is ≥ 104 or its volume (length * width * height) is ≥ 109. A box is 'Heavy' if its mass is ≥ 100. The final category is determined by the combination of 'Bulky' and 'Heavy' properties: Both, Bulky, Heavy, or Neither.

Solution Approach

The solution uses a straightforward approach based on boolean flags and conditional statements. It first calculates the volume of the box and then checks the conditions for 'Bulky' and 'Heavy' independently. Finally, based on the boolean values, it assigns the appropriate category.

Step-by-Step Algorithm

Step 1: Calculate the volume of the box: `volume = length * width * height` (Handling potential overflow is important here).
Step 2: Check if the box is 'Bulky': `bulky = (length >= 10000 || width >= 10000 || height >= 10000 || volume >= 1000000000)`
Step 3: Check if the box is 'Heavy': `heavy = (mass >= 100)`
Step 4: Determine the category based on the values of `bulky` and `heavy` using nested `if-else` statements.
Step 5: Return the category string: "Both", "Bulky", "Heavy", or "Neither".

Key Insights

Insight 1: The problem involves straightforward conditional logic. We need to check multiple conditions sequentially to determine the correct category.
Insight 2: Careful handling of potential integer overflow is crucial when calculating the volume. Using `long long` or similar data types in C++, Java's `long`, or Python's ability to handle large integers is important to avoid errors.
Insight 3: The order of checks matters. We must first determine if the box is 'Bulky' and 'Heavy' before checking for only 'Bulky' or 'Heavy'.

Complexity Analysis

Time Complexity: O(1)

Space Complexity: O(1)

Topics

This problem involves: Math.

Companies

Asked at: Zendesk.

Categorize Box According to Criteria | LeetCode 2525

Easy

Math

Time: O(1)Space: O(1)

Solution Code

Available in:

class Solution {
    public String categorizeBox(int length, int width, int height, int mass) {
        boolean isBulky = false;
        boolean isHeavy = false;

        if (length >= 10000 || width >= 10000 || height >= 10000 || (long)length * width * height >= 1000000000) {
            isBulky = true;
        }

        if (mass >= 100) {
            isHeavy = true;
        }

        if (isBulky && isHeavy) {
            return "Both";
        } else if (isBulky) {
            return "Bulky";
        } else if (isHeavy) {
            return "Heavy";
        } else {
            return "Neither";
        }
    }
}

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Problem Info

Description

Problem 2525: Categorize Box According to Criteria - Detailed explanation and solution approaches.

Topics

Math

Companies

Zendesk

Stats

Difficulty:Easy

Languages:4

Companies:1

Problem #:2525

Problem Explanation

💡

Think Before You Code

🤔 Ask Yourself

→What is the input? What output do I need?
→Can I solve a smaller version of this problem first?
→What patterns have I seen in similar problems?

✏️ Try This First

Before looking at the solution, try to solve it on paper with a simple example!

🚀 Try on LeetCode

Solution Approach

📋

Step-by-Step Solution

5 steps

1
Step 1: Calculate the volume of the box: `volume = length * width * height` (Handling potential overflow is important here).
2
Step 2: Check if the box is 'Bulky': `bulky = (length >= 10000 || width >= 10000 || height >= 10000 || volume >= 1000000000)`
3
Step 3: Check if the box is 'Heavy': `heavy = (mass >= 100)`
4
Step 4: Determine the category based on the values of `bulky` and `heavy` using nested `if-else` statements.
5
Step 5: Return the category string: "Both", "Bulky", "Heavy", or "Neither".

💡

Pro Tip for Students

Try tracing through each step with a small example on paper before coding. Understanding "why" each step happens is more important than memorizing the code!

⚡

Complexity Analysis

⏱️

Time Complexity

O(1)

⚡ Constant time - Super fast! Same speed regardless of input size.

💾

Space Complexity

O(1)

💪 Constant space - Uses same memory regardless of input!

📝

Why?

All operations, including calculations and comparisons, take constant time. The solution uses a fixed number of variables, independent of the input size. Therefore, both time and space complexity are constant.

📖New to Big O? Click to learn more

Big O Notation - Quick Guide

O(1)Best - Instant

O(log n)Excellent - Binary Search

O(n)Good - One loop

O(n log n)OK - Sorting

O(n²)Slow - Nested loops

O(2ⁿ)Very Slow - Recursion

Alternative Approaches

Bit manipulation

Represent 'Bulky' and 'Heavy' as bits (0 or 1). Combine them using bitwise operations and use a lookup table or switch statement to determine the category.

Time: O(1)Space: O(1)

Trade-offs: Might be slightly faster in some architectures but potentially less readable and maintainable than the current approach.

✨

Key Insights

1Insight 1: The problem involves straightforward conditional logic. We need to check multiple conditions sequentially to determine the correct category.
2Insight 2: Careful handling of potential integer overflow is crucial when calculating the volume. Using `long long` or similar data types in C++, Java's `long`, or Python's ability to handle large integers is important to avoid errors.
3Insight 3: The order of checks matters. We must first determine if the box is 'Bulky' and 'Heavy' before checking for only 'Bulky' or 'Heavy'.

📚

Key Terms Explained

For Students

Edge Cases

Edge case 1: Input values that result in a volume exactly equal to 109 or a mass exactly equal to 100. The solution correctly handles these boundary conditions.
Edge case 2: Very large input values for length, width, and height (close to the upper constraint). The use of `long long` (or equivalent) prevents integer overflow and ensures accurate volume calculation.

⚠️

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗Common mistake 1: Integer overflow. Failing to use a larger integer type to calculate the volume can lead to incorrect results and incorrect categorization.

✗Common mistake 2: Incorrect logic in determining the category. Not considering all combinations of 'Bulky' and 'Heavy' (e.g., forgetting the 'Both' case).

✅

Learning Tip

Every mistake is a learning opportunity! When you make an error, understand why it happened before moving on.

🌍

Where is This Used in Real Life?

💼Real-world scenario 1: Logistics and shipping companies categorize packages for handling and pricing based on size and weight. This algorithm could be part of a larger system to automate this process.

🏦Real-world scenario 2: Manufacturing and warehousing systems might use similar logic to classify items based on their dimensions and mass for optimal storage and transport.

💡Understanding real-world applications helps you see the "why" behind algorithms. It's not just about passing interviews—these concepts power the apps and websites you use every day!

Author's Notes

💡 Key Insight

When dealing with arrays, always consider if sorting would simplify the problem. Many array problems have O(n) solutions using hash maps or two-pointer technique.

🎯 Interview Tip

Don't rush. Explain your thought process clearly. Easy problems are often about communication.

⚠️ Watch Out

Always test your solution with edge cases: empty input, single element, and boundary values.

👨‍💻 From Experience

This is one of the first problems I solved when learning Math. It's a great foundation for more complex problems.

Written by Saswata Mondal

Software Engineer • Algorithms Enthusiast • Interview Coach

👨‍💻

About the Author

👨‍💻

Saswata MondalAuthor400+ LC Problems

B.Tech CSE, IEM Kolkata | LeetCode Rating: 1672 (Top 15%)

Certified: IBM Java Developer, NPTEL Programming in Java

Last updated: June 6, 2024LeetCode Profile GitHub

This solution has been crafted based on my experience solving 400+ LeetCode problems. Each explanation is designed to help you understand the underlying concepts, not just memorize the code.

Community Tips & Insights

Don't forget to handle the edge case when the input is empty. Many candidates miss this in interviews.

@DevExpert92Jul 13

The key insight here is recognizing the pattern. Once you see it, the solution becomes straightforward.

@AlgoMasterJul 6

I was asked this exact problem at my Google interview. The interviewer wanted me to optimize space complexity.

@InterviewProJun 29

❓

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I learn from easy problems?

Easy problems introduce core patterns that appear in harder problems. Master basic operations (iteration, conditionals, simple data structures), recognize common patterns (counting, searching, basic transformations), and practice explaining your thought process clearly.

What is the importance of time and space complexity analysis?

Complexity analysis is crucial because: 1) Interviewers always ask about it, 2) It helps you choose between approaches, 3) It demonstrates CS fundamentals. Always state both time and space complexity, and be prepared to explain how you derived them.

What is the optimal approach for "Categorize Box According to Criteria"?

For this easy-level Math problem, the key is to identify the core pattern. Analyze the input constraints to determine acceptable time complexity. Consider whether standard techniques can optimize the solution. Always handle edge cases and validate your approach with examples before coding.

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