find-the-duplicate-number.py

# Time:  O(n)
# Space: O(1)
#
# Given an array nums containing n + 1 integers where each integer
# is between 1 and n (inclusive), prove that at least one duplicate
# element must exist. Assume that there is only one duplicate number,
# find the duplicate one.
#
# Note:
# - You must not modify the array (assume the array is read only).
# - You must use only constant extra space.
# - Your runtime complexity should be less than O(n^2).
#

# Two pointers method, same as Linked List Cycle II.
class Solution(object):
    def findDuplicate(self, nums):
        """
        :type nums: List[int]
        :rtype: int
        """
        # Treat each (key, value) pair of the array as the (pointer, next) node of the linked list,
        # thus the duplicated number will be the begin of the cycle in the linked list.
        # Besides, there is always a cycle in the linked list which
        # starts from the first element of the array.
        slow = nums[0]
        fast = nums[nums[0]]
        while slow != fast:
            slow = nums[slow]
            fast = nums[nums[fast]]

        fast = 0
        while slow != fast:
            slow = nums[slow]
            fast = nums[fast]
        return slow


# Time:  O(nlogn)
# Space: O(1)
# Binary search method.
class Solution2(object):
    def findDuplicate(self, nums):
        """
        :type nums: List[int]
        :rtype: int
        """
        left, right = 1, len(nums) - 1

        while left <= right:
            mid = left + (right - left) / 2
            # Get count of num <= mid.
            count = 0
            for num in nums:
                if num <= mid:
                    count += 1
            if count > mid:
                right = mid - 1 
            else:
                left = mid + 1
        return left

# Time:  O(n)
# Space: O(n)
class Solution3(object):
    def findDuplicate(self, nums):
        """
        :type nums: List[int]
        :rtype: int
        """
        duplicate = 0
        # Mark the value as visited by negative.
        for num in nums:
            if nums[abs(num) - 1] > 0:
                nums[abs(num) - 1] *= -1
            else:
                duplicate = abs(num)
                break
        # Rollback the value.
        for num in nums:
            if nums[abs(num) - 1] < 0:
                nums[abs(num) - 1] *= -1
            else:
                break
        return duplicate