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Problem: Smallest Range Covering Elements from K Lists

Medium
30 min
Explore how to determine the smallest range that covers at least one element from each of k sorted integer lists. Learn to analyze sorted lists, apply the top k elements pattern, and use heaps to solve the problem efficiently. This lesson equips you with practical coding skills to solve range coverage challenges in coding interviews.

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 ba<dcb−a<d−c, or a<ca < c if ba==dcb-a==d-c.

Constraints:

  • nums.length ==k== k

  • 1<=k<=1001 <= k <= 100

  • 11 \leq nums[i].length 50\leq 50

  • 103-10^3 \leq nums[i][j] 103\leq10^3

  • nums[i] is sorted in a non-decreasing order.

Problem
Ask
Submissions

Problem: Smallest Range Covering Elements from K Lists

Medium
30 min
Explore how to determine the smallest range that covers at least one element from each of k sorted integer lists. Learn to analyze sorted lists, apply the top k elements pattern, and use heaps to solve the problem efficiently. This lesson equips you with practical coding skills to solve range coverage challenges in coding interviews.

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 ba<dcb−a<d−c, or a<ca < c if ba==dcb-a==d-c.

Constraints:

  • nums.length ==k== k

  • 1<=k<=1001 <= k <= 100

  • 11 \leq nums[i].length 50\leq 50

  • 103-10^3 \leq nums[i][j] 103\leq10^3

  • nums[i] is sorted in a non-decreasing order.