LeetCode – Distinct Subsequences Total (Java)

Given a string S and a string T, count the number of distinct subsequences of T in S.

A subsequence of a string is a new string which is formed from the original string by deleting some (can be none) of the characters without disturbing the relative positions of the remaining characters. (ie, “ACE” is a subsequence of “ABCDE” while “AEC” is not).

Here is an example:
S = “rabbbit”, T = “rabbit”

Return 3.

Thoughts

When you see string problem that is about subsequence or matching, dynamic programming method should come to your mind naturally. The key is to find the changing condition.

Java Solution 1

Let W(i, j) stand for the number of subsequences of S(0, i) in T(0, j). If S.charAt(i) == T.charAt(j), W(i, j) = W(i-1, j-1) + W(i-1,j); Otherwise, W(i, j) = W(i-1,j).

public int numDistincts(String S, String T) {
	int[][] table = new int[S.length() + 1][T.length() + 1];
 
	for (int i = 0; i < S.length(); i++)
		table[i][0] = 1;
 
	for (int i = 1; i <= S.length(); i++) {
		for (int j = 1; j <= T.length(); j++) {
			if (S.charAt(i - 1) == T.charAt(j - 1)) {
				table[i][j] += table[i - 1][j] + table[i - 1][j - 1];
			} else {
				table[i][j] += table[i - 1][j];
			}
		}
	}
 
	return table[S.length()][T.length()];
}

Java Solution 2

Do NOT write something like this, even it can also pass the online judge.

public int numDistinct(String S, String T) {
	HashMap<Character, ArrayList<Integer>> map = new HashMap<Character, ArrayList<Integer>>();
 
	for (int i = 0; i < T.length(); i++) {
		if (map.containsKey(T.charAt(i))) {
			map.get(T.charAt(i)).add(i);
		} else {
			ArrayList<Integer> temp = new ArrayList<Integer>();
			temp.add(i);
			map.put(T.charAt(i), temp);
		}
	}
 
	int[] result = new int[T.length() + 1];
	result[0] = 1;
 
	for (int i = 0; i < S.length(); i++) {
		char c = S.charAt(i);
 
		if (map.containsKey(c)) {
			ArrayList<Integer> temp = map.get(c);
			int[] old = new int[temp.size()];
 
			for (int j = 0; j < temp.size(); j++)
				old[j] = result[temp.get(j)];
 
			// the relation
			for (int j = 0; j < temp.size(); j++)
				result[temp.get(j) + 1] = result[temp.get(j) + 1] + old[j];
		}
	}
 
	return result[T.length()];
}