java.lang.Object
g2401_2500.s2462_total_cost_to_hire_k_workers.Solution

public class Solution extends java.lang.Object
2462 - Total Cost to Hire K Workers.

Medium

You are given a 0-indexed integer array costs where costs[i] is the cost of hiring the ith worker.

You are also given two integers k and candidates. We want to hire exactly k workers according to the following rules:

  • You will run k sessions and hire exactly one worker in each session.
  • In each hiring session, choose the worker with the lowest cost from either the first candidates workers or the last candidates workers. Break the tie by the smallest index.
    • For example, if costs = [3,2,7,7,1,2] and candidates = 2, then in the first hiring session, we will choose the 4th worker because they have the lowest cost [3,2,7,7, 1 ,2].
    • In the second hiring session, we will choose 1st worker because they have the same lowest cost as 4th worker but they have the smallest index [3, 2 ,7,7,2]. Please note that the indexing may be changed in the process.
  • If there are fewer than candidates workers remaining, choose the worker with the lowest cost among them. Break the tie by the smallest index.
  • A worker can only be chosen once.

Return the total cost to hire exactly k workers.

Example 1:

Input: costs = [17,12,10,2,7,2,11,20,8], k = 3, candidates = 4

Output: 11

Explanation: We hire 3 workers in total. The total cost is initially 0.

  • In the first hiring round we choose the worker from [17,12,10,2,7,2,11,20,8]. The lowest cost is 2, and we break the tie by the smallest index, which is 3. The total cost = 0 + 2 = 2.

  • In the second hiring round we choose the worker from [17,12,10,7,2,11,20,8]. The lowest cost is 2 (index 4). The total cost = 2 + 2 = 4.

  • In the third hiring round we choose the worker from [17,12,10,7,11,20,8]. The lowest cost is 7 (index 3).

The total cost = 4 + 7 = 11. Notice that the worker with index 3 was common in the first and last four workers.

The total hiring cost is 11.

Example 2:

Input: costs = [1,2,4,1], k = 3, candidates = 3

Output: 4

Explanation: We hire 3 workers in total. The total cost is initially 0.

  • In the first hiring round we choose the worker from [1,2,4,1]. The lowest cost is 1, and we break the tie by the smallest index, which is 0. The total cost = 0 + 1 = 1. Notice that workers with index 1 and 2 are common in the first and last 3 workers.

  • In the second hiring round we choose the worker from [2,4,1]. The lowest cost is 1 (index 2). The total cost = 1 + 1 = 2.

  • In the third hiring round there are less than three candidates. We choose the worker from the remaining workers [2,4]. The lowest cost is 2 (index 0).

The total cost = 2 + 2 = 4. The total hiring cost is 4.

Constraints:

  • 1 <= costs.length <= 105
  • 1 <= costs[i] <= 105
  • 1 <= k, candidates <= costs.length
  • Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor
    Description
     
  • Method Summary

    Modifier and Type
    Method
    Description
    long
    totalCost(int[] costs, int k, int candidates)
     

    Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

    clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait
  • Constructor Details

    • Solution

      public Solution()
  • Method Details

    • totalCost

      public long totalCost(int[] costs, int k, int candidates)