The article provides a beginner-friendly guide to solving the "Count Subarrays With Fixed Bounds" problem on LeetCode, focusing on arrays, sliding window, and greedy algorithms.
It explains the problem of counting contiguous subarrays with specific minimum and maximum elements and offers a step-by-step approach to tackle the problem efficiently.
The initial approach involves a naive brute-force method, which is inefficient for larger arrays, prompting the need for a smarter solution.
Key observations during array scanning help optimize the solution by ignoring elements that do not meet the criteria and tracking the latest occurrences of the minimum and maximum elements.
The visual walkthrough illustrates how to identify valid subarrays, enhancing understanding of the problem-solving strategy.
The code strategy involves looping through the array, updating positions, and calculating the valid subarrays efficiently.
The time complexity is O(n) for a single pass through the array, with O(1) space complexity due to no extra data structures.
Full working solutions are provided in C++, JavaScript, and Python, showcasing the implementation of the optimized approach.
Final takeaways include the importance of immediate element reset on going out of bounds and continuous tracking of minimum and maximum element occurrences.
The problem teaches pattern recognition, window management, and greedy optimizations essential for advanced coding interviews.