[leetcode]611. Valid Triangle Number有效三角数

Given an array consists of non-negative integers, your task is to count the number of triplets chosen from the array that can make triangles if we take them as side lengths of a triangle.

Example 1:

Input: [2,2,3,4]
Output: 3
Explanation:
Valid combinations are: 
2,3,4 (using the first 2)
2,3,4 (using the second 2)
2,2,3

Note:

1. The length of the given array won't exceed 1000.
2. The integers in the given array are in the range of [0, 1000].

题意：

给定数组，可由数组中的数字组成多少个valid三角形

解本题的背景知识： 【Math fact】The sum of two sides of a triangle must be greater than the third one

Solution1： Two Pointers (similar as 3 Sum problem)

1. sort array

2. lock pointer k at the trail (must be largest side)

3. set pointer left at 0, right at k-1.    Lock pointer k and pointer right

     

check if nums[left] + nums[right] > nums[k]  

         （1）YES.  Then we can say  (nums[left + 1] / nums[left + 2]....) + nums[right] > nums[k]

                            

                         So combination count: right - left

                         Then lock pointer k and pointer right -1 to get next combination count

            (2) No.   Then left ++

code

/*
Time: O(n^2)
Space: O(1)
*/

class Solution {
    public int triangleNumber(int[] nums) {
        if(nums == null || nums.length == 0) return 0;
        Arrays.sort(nums);  
        int result = 0;
         for (int k = nums.length - 1; k > 0 ; k--) {
            int left = 0;
            int right = k - 1 ;
            while (left < right) {
                if (nums[left] + nums[right] > nums[k]) {
                    result += (right - left);
                    right--;
                }
                else {
                    left++;
                }
            }
        } 
        return result;
    }
}