LeetCode #2744 — EASY

Find Maximum Number of String Pairs

Build confidence with an intuition-first walkthrough focused on array fundamentals.

Solve on LeetCode

The Problem

Problem Statement

You are given a 0-indexed array words consisting of distinct strings.

The string words[i] can be paired with the string words[j] if:

The string words[i] is equal to the reversed string of words[j].
0 <= i < j < words.length.

Return the maximum number of pairs that can be formed from the array words.

Note that each string can belong in at most one pair.

Example 1:

Input: words = ["cd","ac","dc","ca","zz"]
Output: 2
Explanation: In this example, we can form 2 pair of strings in the following way:
- We pair the 0^th string with the 2^nd string, as the reversed string of word[0] is "dc" and is equal to words[2].
- We pair the 1^st string with the 3^rd string, as the reversed string of word[1] is "ca" and is equal to words[3].
It can be proven that 2 is the maximum number of pairs that can be formed.

Example 2:

Input: words = ["ab","ba","cc"]
Output: 1
Explanation: In this example, we can form 1 pair of strings in the following way:
- We pair the 0^th string with the 1^st string, as the reversed string of words[1] is "ab" and is equal to words[0].
It can be proven that 1 is the maximum number of pairs that can be formed.

Example 3:

Input: words = ["aa","ab"]
Output: 0
Explanation: In this example, we are unable to form any pair of strings.

Constraints:

1 <= words.length <= 50
words[i].length == 2
words consists of distinct strings.
words[i] contains only lowercase English letters.

Step 01

Brute Force Baseline

Problem summary: You are given a 0-indexed array words consisting of distinct strings. The string words[i] can be paired with the string words[j] if: The string words[i] is equal to the reversed string of words[j]. 0 <= i < j < words.length. Return the maximum number of pairs that can be formed from the array words. Note that each string can belong in at most one pair.

Baseline thinking

Start with the most direct exhaustive search. That gives a correctness anchor before optimizing.

Pattern signal: Array · Hash Map

Example 1

["cd","ac","dc","ca","zz"]

Example 2

["ab","ba","cc"]

Example 3

["aa","ab"]

Core Insight

What unlocks the optimal approach

Notice that array words consist of distinct strings.
Iterate over all indices (i, j) and check if they can be paired.

Interview move: turn each hint into an invariant you can check after every iteration/recursion step.

Step 03

Algorithm Walkthrough

Iteration Checklist

Define state (indices, window, stack, map, DP cell, or recursion frame).
Apply one transition step and update the invariant.
Record answer candidate when condition is met.
Continue until all input is consumed.

Use the first example testcase as your mental trace to verify each transition.

Step 04

Edge Cases

Minimum Input

Single element / shortest valid input

Validate boundary behavior before entering the main loop or recursion.

Duplicates & Repeats

Repeated values / repeated states

Decide whether duplicates should be merged, skipped, or counted explicitly.

Extreme Constraints

Upper-end input sizes

Re-check complexity target against constraints to avoid time-limit issues.

Invalid / Corner Shape

Empty collections, zeros, or disconnected structures

Handle special-case structure before the core algorithm path.

Step 05

Full Annotated Code

Source-backed implementations are provided below for direct study and interview prep.

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #2744: Find Maximum Number of String Pairs
class Solution {
    public int maximumNumberOfStringPairs(String[] words) {
        Map<Integer, Integer> cnt = new HashMap<>();
        int ans = 0;
        for (var w : words) {
            int a = w.charAt(0) - 'a', b = w.charAt(1) - 'a';
            ans += cnt.getOrDefault(b << 5 | a, 0);
            cnt.merge(a << 5 | b, 1, Integer::sum);
        }
        return ans;
    }
}

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #2744: Find Maximum Number of String Pairs
func maximumNumberOfStringPairs(words []string) (ans int) {
	cnt := map[int]int{}
	for _, w := range words {
		a, b := int(w[0]-'a'), int(w[1]-'a')
		ans += cnt[b<<5|a]
		cnt[a<<5|b]++
	}
	return
}

# Accepted solution for LeetCode #2744: Find Maximum Number of String Pairs
class Solution:
    def maximumNumberOfStringPairs(self, words: List[str]) -> int:
        cnt = Counter()
        ans = 0
        for w in words:
            ans += cnt[w[::-1]]
            cnt[w] += 1
        return ans

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #2744: Find Maximum Number of String Pairs
pub fn maximum_number_of_string_pairs(words: Vec<String>) -> i32 {
    let tables = words
        .into_iter()
        .map(|s| {
            s.bytes().fold(vec![0; 26], |mut acc, b| {
                let index = (b - b'a') as usize;
                acc[index] += 1;
                acc
            })
        })
        .collect::<Vec<Vec<i32>>>();

    let mut ret = 0;
    for i in 0..tables.len() {
        for j in (i + 1)..tables.len() {
            if tables[i] == tables[j] {
                ret += 1;
            }
        }
    }

    ret
}

fn main() {
    let words = vec![
        "cd".to_string(),
        "ac".to_string(),
        "dc".to_string(),
        "ca".to_string(),
        "zz".to_string(),
    ];
    let ret = maximum_number_of_string_pairs(words);
    println!("ret={ret}");
}

#[test]
fn test_maximum_number_of_string_pairs() {
    {
        let words = vec![
            "cd".to_string(),
            "ac".to_string(),
            "dc".to_string(),
            "ca".to_string(),
            "zz".to_string(),
        ];
        let ret = maximum_number_of_string_pairs(words);
        assert_eq!(ret, 2);
    }
    {
        let words = vec![
            "ab".to_string(),
            "ba".to_string(),
            "cc".to_string(),
            "ca".to_string(),
            "zz".to_string(),
        ];
        let ret = maximum_number_of_string_pairs(words);
        assert_eq!(ret, 1);
    }
    {
        let words = vec!["aa".to_string(), "ab".to_string()];
        let ret = maximum_number_of_string_pairs(words);
        assert_eq!(ret, 0);
    }
}

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #2744: Find Maximum Number of String Pairs
function maximumNumberOfStringPairs(words: string[]): number {
    const cnt: { [key: number]: number } = {};
    let ans = 0;
    for (const w of words) {
        const [a, b] = [w.charCodeAt(0) - 97, w.charCodeAt(w.length - 1) - 97];
        ans += cnt[(b << 5) | a] || 0;
        cnt[(a << 5) | b] = (cnt[(a << 5) | b] || 0) + 1;
    }
    return ans;
}

Step 06

Interactive Study Demo

Use this to step through a reusable interview workflow for this problem.

Custom checkpoints (one per line)

Press Step or Run All to begin.

Step 07

Complexity Analysis

Time

O(n)

Space

O(n)

Approach Breakdown

BRUTE FORCE

O(n²) time

O(1) space

Two nested loops check every pair or subarray. The outer loop fixes a starting point, the inner loop extends or searches. For n elements this gives up to n²/2 operations. No extra space, but the quadratic time is prohibitive for large inputs.

OPTIMIZED

O(n) time

O(1) space

Most array problems have an O(n²) brute force (nested loops) and an O(n) optimal (single pass with clever state tracking). The key is identifying what information to maintain as you scan: a running max, a prefix sum, a hash map of seen values, or two pointers.

Shortcut: If you are using nested loops on an array, there is almost always an O(n) solution. Look for the right auxiliary state.

Coach Notes

Common Mistakes

Review these before coding to avoid predictable interview regressions.

Off-by-one on range boundaries

Wrong move: Loop endpoints miss first/last candidate.

Usually fails on: Fails on minimal arrays and exact-boundary answers.

Fix: Re-derive loops from inclusive/exclusive ranges before coding.

Mutating counts without cleanup

Wrong move: Zero-count keys stay in map and break distinct/count constraints.

Usually fails on: Window/map size checks are consistently off by one.

Fix: Delete keys when count reaches zero.