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Grokking the Coding Interview Patterns in C++

Solution: Smallest Range Covering Elements from K Lists

Explore how to identify the smallest range covering elements from k sorted lists by using a min heap to track minimum and maximum values dynamically. Understand the core logic behind the algorithm, implement heap operations efficiently, and analyze time and space complexity to solve this common coding interview problem.

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Statement

You are given kk sorted lists of integers, nums, where each list in nums is in non-decreasing order. Your task is to find the smallest range that contains at least one element from each of the kk lists.

A range [a,b][a,b] is considered smaller than another range [c,d][c,d] if b−a<d−cb−a<d−c, or a<ca < c if b−a==d−cb-a==d-c ...