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Solution: The Number of the Smallest Unoccupied Chair

Explore how to apply heaps to efficiently assign the smallest unoccupied chair in a dynamic setting with arriving and leaving friends. Understand sorting, min-heap usage for available and occupied chairs, and how these data structures optimize seat management to achieve an O(n log n) solution, preparing you for similar coding interview challenges.

Statement

At a party, nn friends, numbered from 00 to n1n - 1, arrive and leave at different times. There are infinitely many chairs, numbered 00 onwards. Each arriving friend sits on the smallest available chair at that moment.

For example, ...