Overflow in intermediate arithmetic
Wrong move: Temporary multiplications exceed integer bounds.
Usually fails on: Large inputs wrap around unexpectedly.
Fix: Use wider types, modular arithmetic, or rearranged operations.
Move from brute-force thinking to an efficient approach using math strategy.
You are given a positive integer p. Consider an array nums (1-indexed) that consists of the integers in the inclusive range [1, 2p - 1] in their binary representations. You are allowed to do the following operation any number of times:
x and y from nums.x and swap it with its corresponding bit in y. Corresponding bit refers to the bit that is in the same position in the other integer.For example, if x = 1101 and y = 0011, after swapping the 2nd bit from the right, we have x = 1111 and y = 0001.
Find the minimum non-zero product of nums after performing the above operation any number of times. Return this product modulo 109 + 7.
Note: The answer should be the minimum product before the modulo operation is done.
Example 1:
Input: p = 1 Output: 1 Explanation: nums = [1]. There is only one element, so the product equals that element.
Example 2:
Input: p = 2 Output: 6 Explanation: nums = [01, 10, 11]. Any swap would either make the product 0 or stay the same. Thus, the array product of 1 * 2 * 3 = 6 is already minimized.
Example 3:
Input: p = 3
Output: 1512
Explanation: nums = [001, 010, 011, 100, 101, 110, 111]
- In the first operation we can swap the leftmost bit of the second and fifth elements.
- The resulting array is [001, 110, 011, 100, 001, 110, 111].
- In the second operation we can swap the middle bit of the third and fourth elements.
- The resulting array is [001, 110, 001, 110, 001, 110, 111].
The array product is 1 * 6 * 1 * 6 * 1 * 6 * 7 = 1512, which is the minimum possible product.
Constraints:
1 <= p <= 60Problem summary: You are given a positive integer p. Consider an array nums (1-indexed) that consists of the integers in the inclusive range [1, 2p - 1] in their binary representations. You are allowed to do the following operation any number of times: Choose two elements x and y from nums. Choose a bit in x and swap it with its corresponding bit in y. Corresponding bit refers to the bit that is in the same position in the other integer. For example, if x = 1101 and y = 0011, after swapping the 2nd bit from the right, we have x = 1111 and y = 0001. Find the minimum non-zero product of nums after performing the above operation any number of times. Return this product modulo 109 + 7. Note: The answer should be the minimum product before the modulo operation is done.
Start with the most direct exhaustive search. That gives a correctness anchor before optimizing.
Pattern signal: Math · Greedy
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2
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Source-backed implementations are provided below for direct study and interview prep.
// Accepted solution for LeetCode #1969: Minimum Non-Zero Product of the Array Elements
class Solution {
public int minNonZeroProduct(int p) {
final int mod = (int) 1e9 + 7;
long a = ((1L << p) - 1) % mod;
long b = qpow(((1L << p) - 2) % mod, (1L << (p - 1)) - 1, mod);
return (int) (a * b % mod);
}
private long qpow(long a, long n, int mod) {
long ans = 1;
for (; n > 0; n >>= 1) {
if ((n & 1) == 1) {
ans = ans * a % mod;
}
a = a * a % mod;
}
return ans;
}
}
// Accepted solution for LeetCode #1969: Minimum Non-Zero Product of the Array Elements
func minNonZeroProduct(p int) int {
const mod int = 1e9 + 7
qpow := func(a, n int) int {
ans := 1
for ; n > 0; n >>= 1 {
if n&1 == 1 {
ans = ans * a % mod
}
a = a * a % mod
}
return ans
}
a := ((1 << p) - 1) % mod
b := qpow(((1<<p)-2)%mod, (1<<(p-1))-1)
return a * b % mod
}
# Accepted solution for LeetCode #1969: Minimum Non-Zero Product of the Array Elements
class Solution:
def minNonZeroProduct(self, p: int) -> int:
mod = 10**9 + 7
return (2**p - 1) * pow(2**p - 2, 2 ** (p - 1) - 1, mod) % mod
// Accepted solution for LeetCode #1969: Minimum Non-Zero Product of the Array Elements
/**
* [1969] Minimum Non-Zero Product of the Array Elements
*
* You are given a positive integer p. Consider an array nums (1-indexed) that consists of the integers in the inclusive range [1, 2^p - 1] in their binary representations. You are allowed to do the following operation any number of times:
*
* Choose two elements x and y from nums.
* Choose a bit in x and swap it with its corresponding bit in y. Corresponding bit refers to the bit that is in the same position in the other integer.
*
* For example, if x = 11<u>0</u>1 and y = 00<u>1</u>1, after swapping the 2^nd bit from the right, we have x = 11<u>1</u>1 and y = 00<u>0</u>1.
* Find the minimum non-zero product of nums after performing the above operation any number of times. Return this product modulo 10^9 + 7.
* Note: The answer should be the minimum product before the modulo operation is done.
*
* Example 1:
*
* Input: p = 1
* Output: 1
* Explanation: nums = [1].
* There is only one element, so the product equals that element.
*
* Example 2:
*
* Input: p = 2
* Output: 6
* Explanation: nums = [01, 10, 11].
* Any swap would either make the product 0 or stay the same.
* Thus, the array product of 1 * 2 * 3 = 6 is already minimized.
*
* Example 3:
*
* Input: p = 3
* Output: 1512
* Explanation: nums = [001, 010, 011, 100, 101, 110, 111]
* - In the first operation we can swap the leftmost bit of the second and fifth elements.
* - The resulting array is [001, <u>1</u>10, 011, 100, <u>0</u>01, 110, 111].
* - In the second operation we can swap the middle bit of the third and fourth elements.
* - The resulting array is [001, 110, 0<u>0</u>1, 1<u>1</u>0, 001, 110, 111].
* The array product is 1 * 6 * 1 * 6 * 1 * 6 * 7 = 1512, which is the minimum possible product.
*
*
* Constraints:
*
* 1 <= p <= 60
*
*/
pub struct Solution {}
// problem: https://leetcode.com/problems/minimum-non-zero-product-of-the-array-elements/
// discuss: https://leetcode.com/problems/minimum-non-zero-product-of-the-array-elements/discuss/?currentPage=1&orderBy=most_votes&query=
// submission codes start here
impl Solution {
pub fn min_non_zero_product(p: i32) -> i32 {
0
}
}
// submission codes end
#[cfg(test)]
mod tests {
use super::*;
#[test]
#[ignore]
fn test_1969_example_1() {
let p = 1;
let result = 1;
assert_eq!(Solution::min_non_zero_product(p), result);
}
#[test]
#[ignore]
fn test_1969_example_2() {
let p = 2;
let result = 6;
assert_eq!(Solution::min_non_zero_product(p), result);
}
#[test]
#[ignore]
fn test_1969_example_3() {
let p = 3;
let result = 3;
assert_eq!(Solution::min_non_zero_product(p), result);
}
}
// Accepted solution for LeetCode #1969: Minimum Non-Zero Product of the Array Elements
function minNonZeroProduct(p: number): number {
const mod = BigInt(1e9 + 7);
const qpow = (a: bigint, n: bigint): bigint => {
let ans = BigInt(1);
for (; n; n >>= BigInt(1)) {
if (n & BigInt(1)) {
ans = (ans * a) % mod;
}
a = (a * a) % mod;
}
return ans;
};
const a = (2n ** BigInt(p) - 1n) % mod;
const b = qpow((2n ** BigInt(p) - 2n) % mod, 2n ** (BigInt(p) - 1n) - 1n);
return Number((a * b) % mod);
}
Use this to step through a reusable interview workflow for this problem.
Try every possible combination of choices. With n items each having two states (include/exclude), the search space is 2ⁿ. Evaluating each combination takes O(n), giving O(n × 2ⁿ). The recursion stack or subset storage uses O(n) space.
Greedy algorithms typically sort the input (O(n log n)) then make a single pass (O(n)). The sort dominates. If the input is already sorted or the greedy choice can be computed without sorting, time drops to O(n). Proving greedy correctness (exchange argument) is harder than the implementation.
Review these before coding to avoid predictable interview regressions.
Wrong move: Temporary multiplications exceed integer bounds.
Usually fails on: Large inputs wrap around unexpectedly.
Fix: Use wider types, modular arithmetic, or rearranged operations.
Wrong move: Locally optimal choices may fail globally.
Usually fails on: Counterexamples appear on crafted input orderings.
Fix: Verify with exchange argument or monotonic objective before committing.