Binary Tree Maximum Path Sum
Detailed guide and Python implementation for the 'Binary Tree Maximum Path Sum' problem.
1. Concept Overview
The 'Binary Tree Maximum Path Sum' problem is a key challenge in the Trees section.
This implementation focuses on hard-level logic in Python.
We prioritize technical accuracy and code readability in our provided solutions.
2. Real-World Applications
3. Visual Intuition
Visualizing the logic flow for Binary Tree Maximum Path Sum.
4. Prerequisites
5. Step-by-Step Thinking
1. Understand the problem
Read the problem statement for Binary Tree Maximum Path Sum carefully.
2. Formulate brute force
Draft a simple iterative solution.
3. Identify inefficiency
Look for redundant calculations.
4. Optimize search path
Use hashing or sorting to speed up the process.
5. Final Implementation
Clean up the code for production standards.
Problem Statement
A path in a binary tree is a sequence of nodes where each pair of adjacent nodes in the sequence has an edge connecting them. A node can only appear in the sequence at most once. Note that the path does not need to pass through the root.
The path sum of a path is the sum of the node's values in the path.
Given the root of a binary tree, return the maximum path sum of any non-empty path.
The tree is represented as a level-order list. Implement a function maxPathSum(root: list) -> int.
- •The number of nodes in the tree is in the range [1, 30000]
- •-1000 <= Node.val <= 1000
Examples
[1,2,3]
6
The optimal path is 2 -> 1 -> 3 with a path sum of 2 + 1 + 3 = 6.
[-10,9,20,None,None,15,7]
42
The optimal path is 15 -> 20 -> 7 with a path sum of 15 + 20 + 7 = 42.
[-3]
-3
The only path is the single node -3.
Need a Hint?
Edge Cases to Watch
- Empty input structures
- Single element inputs
- Large numerical bounds
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Interview Insights & Variations
Complexity Analysis Breakdown
Why Time: Directly evaluates all possibilities.
Why Space: Uses standard local memory.
Why Time: Optimized paths reduce total operations.
Why Space: May trade memory for speed.
Optimized Solution Python Code
Optimized Solution Python Code
def max_path_sum_opt(root):
if isinstance(root, list):
r = build_tree(root)
return max_path_sum_opt_helper(r)
return max_path_sum_opt_helper(root)
def max_path_sum_opt_helper(root: TreeNode) -> int:
max_sum = float('-inf')
def dfs(node):
nonlocal max_sum
if not node:
return 0
left_max = max(0, dfs(node.left))
right_max = max(0, dfs(node.right))
max_sum = max(max_sum, node.val + left_max + right_max)
return node.val + max(left_max, right_max)
dfs(root)
return max_sumBrute Force Code (Spoiler Guarded)
Brute Force Code (Spoiler Guarded)
def max_path_sum_brute(root):
if isinstance(root, list):
r = build_tree(root)
return max_path_sum_brute_helper(r)
return max_path_sum_brute_helper(root)
def max_path_sum_brute_helper(root: TreeNode) -> int:
max_sum = float('-inf')
def dfs(node):
nonlocal max_sum
if not node: return 0
left = max(0, dfs(node.left))
right = max(0, dfs(node.right))
max_sum = max(max_sum, node.val + left + right)
return node.val + max(left, right)
dfs(root)
return max_sumAlgorithm Pattern Checklist
When dealing with Trees data patterns.
Core Prerequisites
Revision Key Notes
Common Mistakes & Pitfalls
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