Given an array S of n integers, find three integers in S such that the sum is closest to a given number, target. Return the sum of the three integers. You may assume that each input would have exactly one solution. For example, given array S = {-1 2 1 -4}, and target = 1. The sum that is closest to the target is 2. (-1 + 2 + 1 = 2).
Thoughts
This problem is similar with 3 Sum. This kind of problem can be solve by using similar approach, i.e., two pointers from both left and right.
Java Solution
public class Solution {
public int threeSumClosest(int[] num, int target) {
int min = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
int result = 0;
Arrays.sort(num);
for (int i = 0; i < num.length; i++) {
int j = i + 1;
int k = num.length - 1;
while (j < k) {
int sum = num[i] + num[j] + num[k];
int diff = Math.abs(sum - target);
if (diff < min) {
min = diff;
result = sum;
}
if (sum <= target) {
j++;
} else {
k--;
}
}
}
return result;
}
}