Find the Winner of an Array Game

class Solution {
public:
    int determineWinner(vector<int>& nums, int k) {
        int highest = nums[0];
        for (int i = 1; i < nums.size(); i++) {
            highest = max(highest, nums[i]);
        }
        
        int current = nums[0];
        int consecutiveWins = 0;
        
        for (int i = 1; i < nums.size(); i++) {
            int nextCompetitor = nums[i];
            
            if (current > nextCompetitor) {
                consecutiveWins++;
            } else {
                current = nextCompetitor;
                consecutiveWins = 1;
            }
            
            if (consecutiveWins == k || current == highest) {
                return current;
            }
        }
        
        return -1;
    }
};

The problem "Find the Winner of an Array Game" is solved in C++ using a straightforward approach that hinges on iterating through the number list and maintaining track of the maximum number. Here's a breakdown of the solution:

• Start by determining the highest number in the array, as this number has the potential to end the competition early if it reaches the required consecutive wins.
• Initialize the game with the first number in the array and set its initial consecutive wins to zero.
• Loop through each element in the array starting from the second element, treating it as the next competitor.
• Compare the current number with the next competitor:
  • If the current number is greater, increment the count of its consecutive wins.
  • If the next competitor is greater, switch the current number to this competitor and reset consecutive wins to one.
• Check after each comparison:
  • If a number's consecutive wins equal the specified threshold k, or if the current number equals the highest number in the array, return this number as it has won the game.
• If the loop terminates without finding a winner that meets the criteria, return -1.

This implements a strategy that models the game's rules effectively, ensuring that it efficiently determines the winner by exploiting the given constraints and conditions with proper handling of potential early termination scenarios. By utilizing standard C++ vector operations and control structures, the given implementation offers a clear and direct method to resolve the problem.

class Solution {
    public int determineWinner(int[] nums, int k) {
        int highestValue = nums[0];
        for (int i = 1; i < nums.length; i++) {
            highestValue = Math.max(highestValue, nums[i]);
        }
        
        int currentWinner = nums[0];
        int consecutiveWins = 0;
        
        for (int i = 1; i < nums.length; i++) {
            int challenger = nums[i];
            
            if (currentWinner > challenger) {
                consecutiveWins++;
            } else {
                currentWinner = challenger;
                consecutiveWins = 1;
            }
            
            if (consecutiveWins == k || currentWinner == highestValue) {
                return currentWinner;
            }
        }
        
        return -1;
    }
}

In the provided Java program, the task is to determine the winner of an array game. The winner is decided based on the number of consecutive wins required (k) or if any player becomes the dominant player by winning against the highest value in the array.

Here's how the provided code achieves this:

• Initialize Variables:

  • highestValue starts as the first element of the array nums, and iteratively updates to maintain the maximum value found in the array.
  • currentWinner starts as the first element, representing the current winner in the game loop.
  • consecutiveWins, initialized to 0, tracks the number of consecutive wins the currentWinner has.

• Determine the Maximum Value:

  • Loop through each element in the array nums to find the maximum value highestValue. This step is crucial to identify a short-circuit condition where the current winner has already won against the highest possible value.

• Game Logic to Determine the Winner:

  • Iterate through the array, starting from the second element, and compare each element (challenger) to the currentWinner.
  • If currentWinner is greater than the challenger, increment consecutiveWins. If not, update currentWinner to the challenger and reset consecutiveWins to 1.
  • The loop exits in two scenarios:
    • If consecutiveWins reaches k, indicating the currentWinner has won consecutively k times.
    • If currentWinner becomes equal to highestValue, indicating that the player has won against the highest value in the array.

• Return Statement:

  • If neither of the above conditions is satisfied by the end of the loop, the function returns -1, indicating no winner based on the given conditions.
  • Otherwise, the function returns the currentWinner when one of the exit conditions is met during the loop.

The solution efficiently utilizes conditional checks and updates within loops to determine the game's winner based on the described rules, providing an optimal solution to the array game challenge.

class Solution:
    def determine_winner(self, arr: List[int], k: int) -> int:
        highest_value = max(arr)
        current_leader = arr[0]
        consecutive_wins = 0

        for index in range(1, len(arr)):
            rival = arr[index]
            if current_leader > rival:
                consecutive_wins += 1
            else:
                current_leader = rival
                consecutive_wins = 1
            
            if consecutive_wins == k or current_leader == highest_value:
                return current_leader

This solution for the problem "Find the Winner of an Array Game" is implemented in Python and focuses on identifying the winner based on the rules provided. The function determine_winner takes an array arr and an integer k, and determines the winner using the following steps:

• Identify the highest_value in the array using Python's max() function.
• Initialize a current_leader to the first element of the array and set consecutive_wins to 0.
• Iterate through the array starting from the second element. For each element:
  • Compare it with the current_leader. If current_leader is higher, increment consecutive_wins.
  • If the rival (current element) is greater, update current_leader to this new value and reset consecutive_wins to 1.
• If at any point consecutive_wins equals k or the current_leader matches the highest_value, return the current_leader as the winner.

This algorithm primarily revolves around tracking wins in sequence and checking if any player dominates as per the 'k' threshold or is already the highest value in the array. With these conditions met, the winner is immediately decided and returned.