# 436. Find Right Interval
Given a set of intervals, for each of the interval i, check if there exists an interval j whose start point is bigger than or equal to the end point of the interval i, which can be called that j is on the "right" of i.
For any interval i, you need to store the minimum interval j's index, which means that the interval j has the minimum start point to build the "right" relationship for interval i. If the interval j doesn't exist, store -1 for the interval i. Finally, you need output the stored value of each interval as an array.
Note: You may assume the interval's end point is always bigger than its start point. You may assume none of these intervals have the same start point. Example 1:
Input: [ [1,2] ]
Output: [-1]
Explanation: There is only one interval in the collection, so it outputs -1. Example 2:
Input: [ [3,4], [2,3], [1,2] ]
Output: [-1, 0, 1]
Explanation: There is no satisfied "right" interval for [3,4]. For [2,3], the interval [3,4] has minimum-"right" start point; For [1,2], the interval [2,3] has minimum-"right" start point. Example 3:
Input: [ [1,4], [2,3], [3,4] ]
Output: [-1, 2, -1]
Explanation: There is no satisfied "right" interval for [1,4] and [3,4]. For [2,3], the interval [3,4] has minimum-"right" start point.
# Solution
Approach 1: brute force. For each interval, iterate through all intervals and remember the index of the nearest right. O(N^2)
time.
Approach 2: sort intervals by their start points, then for each interval, take its end point, and use binary search to find it's nearest right. O(NlogN)
time.
# Code (Python)
Approach 2:
# Definition for an interval.
# class Interval:
# def __init__(self, s=0, e=0):
# self.start = s
# self.end = e
import bisect
class Solution:
def findRightInterval(self, intervals):
"""
:type intervals: List[Interval]
:rtype: List[int]
"""
sorted_indices = sorted(list(range(len(intervals))), key=lambda ind:intervals[ind].start)
sorted_starting_points = [intervals[ind].start for ind in sorted_indices]
result = []
for interval in intervals:
# assuming end > start for any interval, so bisect_left won't be returning the index of itself
insert_point = bisect.bisect_left(sorted_starting_points, interval.end)
if insert_point < len(intervals):
result.append(sorted_indices[insert_point])
else:
result.append(-1)
return result
# Note:
# sorted(iterable, key) can be implemented using merge sort -- need to turn the iterable into a list first though
# bisect_left(array, target) can be implemented using binary search
# Code (C++)
Approach 1:
Approach 2: