3Sum

Can you solve this real interview question? 3Sum - Given an integer array nums, return all the triplets [nums[i], nums[j], nums[k]] such that i != j, i != k, and j != k, and nums[i] + nums[j] + nums[k] == 0.

Notice that the solution set must not contain duplicate triplets.

 

Example 1:

Input: nums = [-1,0,1,2,-1,-4] Output: [[-1,-1,2],[-1,0,1]] Explanation: nums[0] + nums[1] + nums[2] = (-1) + 0 + 1 = 0. nums[1] + nums[2] + nums[4] = 0 + 1 + (-1) = 0. nums[0] + nums[3] + nums[4] = (-1) + 2 + (-1) = 0. The distinct triplets are [-1,0,1] and [-1,-1,2]. Notice that the order of the output and the order of the triplets does not matter.

Example 2:

Input: nums = [0,1,1] Output: [] Explanation: The only possible triplet does not sum up to 0.

Example 3:

Input: nums = [0,0,0] Output: [[0,0,0]] Explanation: The only possible triplet sums up to 0.

Solution

class Solution:
    def threeSum(self, nums: List[int]) -> List[List[int]]:
        res = []
        nums.sort()

        for i in range(len(nums)):
            if i > 0 and nums[i] == nums[i-1]:
                continue
            
            j = i + 1
            k = len(nums) - 1

            while j < k:
                total = nums[i] + nums[j] + nums[k]

                if total > 0:
                    k -= 1
                elif total < 0:
                    j += 1
                else:
                    res.append([nums[i], nums[j], nums[k]])
                    j += 1

                    while nums[j] == nums[j-1] and j < k:
                        j += 1
        
        return res