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How to Solve Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount Problem
Master the Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount LeetCode problem with undetectable real-time assistance. Get instant solutions and explanations during your coding interviews.
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Start Free for WindowsEasy#2144
LeetCode ProblemMinimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount
A shop is selling candies at a discount. For every two candies sold, the shop gives a third candy for free. The customer can choose any candy to take away for free as long as the cost of the chosen candy is less than or equal to the minimum cost of the two candies bought. Given a 0-indexed integer array cost, where cost[i] denotes the cost of the ith candy, return the minimum cost of buying all the candies.
ArrayGreedySorting
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Problem Breakdown
Understanding the Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount Problem
Let's break down this LeetCode problem and understand what makes it challenging in interview settings.
Problem Statement
A shop is selling candies at a discount. For every two candies sold, the shop gives a third candy for free. The customer can choose any candy to take away for free as long as the cost of the chosen candy is less than or equal to the minimum cost of the two candies bought. Given a 0-indexed integer array cost, where cost[i] denotes the cost of the ith candy, return the minimum cost of buying all the candies.
EasyProblem #2144
LeetCodeMinimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount
Related Topics
ArrayGreedySorting
How Phantom Code Helps
Get real-time assistance for Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount problems during coding interviews. Phantom Code provides instant solutions and explanations.
Examples
# Example 1
Input
cost = [1,2,3]
Output
5
# Example 2
Input
cost = [6,5,7,9,2,2]
Output
23
# Example 3
Input
cost = [5,5]
Output
10
Constraints
1 <= cost.length <= 100
1 <= cost[i] <= 100
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Solve Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount — A shop is selling candies at a discount. For every two candies sold, the shop gi...
Here's the optimal approach using Array:
def solve(input):
# Optimal O(n) solution
return result
Time: O(n) | Space: O(n)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about solving Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount and using Phantom Code during coding interviews.
How does Phantom Code help me solve coding problems like Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount during interviews?
Phantom Code generates complete solutions instantly with proper complexity analysis, letting you focus on explaining your approach and demonstrating problem-solving skills rather than getting stuck on implementation details during high-pressure situations.
What if the interviewer asks follow-up questions or modifications to problems like Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount?
Phantom Code adapts in real-time. Screenshot the modified problem or use audio mode to capture the interviewer's follow-up, and get an updated solution within seconds — including edge cases and optimizations.
Can Phantom Code help me communicate my solution for problems like Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount?
Yes. Phantom Code provides step-by-step approach explanations with 3 progressive thoughts, so you can walk through your solution naturally. It also provides time and space complexity analysis to discuss trade-offs.
How does Phantom Code assist with different programming languages for Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount type problems?
Phantom Code supports 11 programming languages including Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, TypeScript, Go, Rust, Ruby, Swift, Kotlin, and C#. Set your preferred language and get idiomatic solutions.
What coding mistakes does Phantom Code help me avoid during Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount interviews?
Phantom Code catches common mistakes like off-by-one errors, missing edge cases, incorrect base conditions, and suboptimal approaches. It provides clean, well-structured code that handles all edge cases.
Is Phantom Code detectable when solving problems like Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount during live interviews?
No. Phantom Code runs as an invisible desktop overlay that doesn't appear in screen shares, recordings, or proctoring software. It works with Zoom, HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, and all major platforms.
How does Phantom Code help when I'm struggling with Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount style questions under pressure?
The AI provides structured guidance: first the approach (what algorithm/data structure to use and why), then the implementation with clean code, and finally complexity analysis. This helps you think clearly even under pressure.
Does Phantom Code work for the coding platforms used in Minimum Cost of Buying Candies With Discount interviews?
Yes. Phantom Code works with all major coding platforms including LeetCode, HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, HackerEarth, and any browser-based coding environment.
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