Problem of The Day: MMinimum Time to Type Word Using Special Typewriter

2 min read 400 words

Problem Statement

leetcode problem link

Solution [accepted]

class Solution:
    def minTimeToType(self, word: str) -> int:
        res = 0
        ptr = 0
        for c in word:
            res += 1
            idx = ord(c) - ord('a')
            if idx == ptr:
                continue
            clockwise = (ptr - idx) % 26
            counterClockwise = -(ptr-idx) % 26
            res += min(clockwise, counterClockwise)
            ptr = idx

        return res

Optimize code

# Python
class Solution:
    def minTimeToType(self, word: str) -> int:
        time = 0
        ptr = 0  # 'a' -> 0
        for c in word:
            idx = ord(c) - ord('a')
            d = abs(ptr - idx)
            time += min(d, 26 - d) + 1  # move + press
            ptr = idx
        return time

public class Solution {
    public int MinTimeToType(string word) {
        int time = 0;
        int ptr = 0;
        foreach (var c in word) {
            var idx = c - 'a';
            var dist = Math.Abs(ptr - idx);
            time += Math.Min(dist, 26 - dist) + 1;
            ptr = idx;
        }
        return time;
    }
}