Count ways to reach score
Detailed guide and Python implementation for the 'Count ways to reach score' problem.
1. Concept Overview
The 'Count ways to reach score' problem is a key challenge in the Dynamic Programming section.
This implementation focuses on easy-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 Count ways to reach score.
4. Prerequisites
5. Step-by-Step Thinking
1. Understand the problem
Read the problem statement for Count ways to reach score 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
Write a function count_ways_score(n) that returns the number of distinct combinations of moves to reach a score n in a game where a player can score 3, 5, or 10 points in each move. Note that combinations with different ordering of moves are considered the same (e.g., scoring 3 then 5 is the same combination as scoring 5 then 3).
- •1 <= n <= 1000
Examples
count_ways_score(13)
2
There are 2 combinations to reach 13: {3, 5, 5} and {3, 10}.
count_ways_score(20)
4
There are 4 combinations to reach 20: {10, 10}, {5, 5, 10}, {5, 5, 5, 5}, and {3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 5}.
Need a Hint?
Edge Cases to Watch
- Empty input structures
- Single element inputs
- Large numerical bounds
Ready to Solve?
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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 count_ways_score_opt(n):
dp = [0] * (n + 1); dp[0] = 1
for x in [3, 5, 10]:
for i in range(x, n + 1): dp[i] += dp[i-x]
return dp[n]Brute Force Code (Spoiler Guarded)
Brute Force Code (Spoiler Guarded)
def count_ways_score_brute(n):
def solve(n, scores):
if n == 0: return 1
if n < 0: return 0
res = 0
for i in range(len(scores)):
res += solve(n - scores[i], scores[i:])
return res
return solve(n, [3, 5, 10])Algorithm Pattern Checklist
When dealing with Dynamic Programming data patterns.
Core Prerequisites
Revision Key Notes
Common Mistakes & Pitfalls
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