LeetCode 3736 | Minimum Moves to Equal Array Elements III | Java | Easy | Greedy | CodeByTushu
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In today’s video, we solve LeetCode 3736 — Minimum Moves to Equal Array Elements III using Math & Greedy in Java.
In this problem, we are given an integer array where in each move we can increment any single element by 1. We need to determine the minimum total number of moves required to make all elements equal. Because operations only allow incrementing values and never decrementing them, no element can end up smaller than its initial value. Consequently, all numbers must be brought up to at least the global maximum of the array. To minimize operations, the optimal target value is strictly the existing maximum element.
We implement an optimal linear scan algorithm. In the first pass, we find the global maximum element across the array. In the second pass, we accumulate the differences between this maximum baseline and each element. This approach handles all edge cases seamlessly, including arrays where elements are already uniform and single-element arrays, operating in O(n) linear time and O(1) constant auxiliary space.
🔥 Problem Highlights
✅ Identifying the global maximum element as the mandatory target baseline
✅ Monotonic increment operations prevent targeting any value smaller than the maximum
✅ Total minimum moves calculated as the sum of (max - num) across all elements
✅ Seamless handling of single-element arrays and already-equal arrays with 0 moves
✅ Clean two-pass / single-pass linear scan implementation
✅ O(n) optimal time complexity and O(1) auxiliary space complexity
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro & Day 101 Streak (Trilogy Finale)
00:40 Problem Understanding & Constraints Analysis
01:35 Key Breakthrough: The Minimum Moves Trilogy
02:10 Optimal Linear Algorithm & Global Max Baseline
02:43 Clean Java 17 Solution Walkthrough Line by Line
03:22 Test Cases Walkthrough & Day 101 Streak Celebration
04:00 Time Complexity Analysis (O(N) Linear Scan)
04:27 Space Complexity Analysis (O(1) Constant Space)
04:48 Outro & Trilogy Conclusion!
📂 Problem Folder & Detailed Documentation:
https://github.com/CodeByTushu/CodeByTushu-LeetCode-Solutions/tree/main/solutions/November/03-November/3736-Minimum-Moves-to-Equal-Array-Elements-III
☕ Java Solution:
https://github.com/CodeByTushu/CodeByTushu-LeetCode-Solutions/blob/main/solutions/November/03-November/3736-Minimum-Moves-to-Equal-Array-Elements-III/Solution.java
🐍 Python Solution:
https://github.com/CodeByTushu/CodeByTushu-LeetCode-Solutions/blob/main/solutions/November/03-November/3736-Minimum-Moves-to-Equal-Array-Elements-III/solution.py
⚡ C++ Solution:
https://github.com/CodeByTushu/CodeByTushu-LeetCode-Solutions/blob/main/solutions/November/03-November/3736-Minimum-Moves-to-Equal-Array-Elements-III/solution.cpp
🌐 JavaScript Solution:
https://github.com/CodeByTushu/CodeByTushu-LeetCode-Solutions/blob/main/solutions/November/03-November/3736-Minimum-Moves-to-Equal-Array-Elements-III/solution.js
🔗 LeetCode Source Code
📌 https://codebytushu.com/leetcode/problem/minimum-moves-to-equal-array-elements-iii
🌐 All LeetCode Solutions
📌 https://codebytushu.com/Leetcode/
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🔥 Perfect For
LeetCode Easy Problems
Java DSA Preparation
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Time Complexity Optimization
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💬 Question of the Day
Why must the target equal value be the maximum element in the array rather than the median or mean?
1️⃣ Because moves only allow incrementing an element by 1, so elements can never decrease
2️⃣ Because the median always minimizes the sum of squared differences
3️⃣ Because the mean is not guaranteed to be an integer
4️⃣ Because sorting is required to establish the baseline element
#LeetCode3736 #LeetCode #MinimumMovesToEqualArrayElementsIII #Java #JavaDSA #Array #Greedy #Math #DSA #CodingInterview #ProblemSolving #LeetCodeEasy #DailyLeetCode #JavaProgramming #CodeByTushu
👇 Comment the answer below! 🔥 Close description
In today’s video, we solve LeetCode 3736 — Minimum Moves to Equal Array Elements III using Math & Greedy in Java.
In this problem, we are given an integer array where in each move we can increment any single element by 1. We need to determine the minimum total number of moves required to make all elements equal. Because operations only allow incrementing values and never decrementing them, no element can end up smaller than its initial value. Consequently, all numbers must be brought up to at least the global maximum of the array. To minimize operations, the optimal target value is strictly the existing maximum element.
We implement an optimal linear scan algorithm. In the first pass, we find the global maximum element across the array. In the second pass, we accumulate the differences between this maximum baseline and each element. This approach handles all edge cases seamlessly, including arrays where elements are already uniform and single-element arrays, operating in O(n) linear time and O(1) constant auxiliary space.
🔥 Problem Highlights
✅ Identifying the global maximum element as the mandatory target baseline
✅ Monotonic increment operations prevent targeting any value smaller than the maximum
✅ Total minimum moves calculated as the sum of (max - num) across all elements
✅ Seamless handling of single-element arrays and already-equal arrays with 0 moves
✅ Clean two-pass / single-pass linear scan implementation
✅ O(n) optimal time complexity and O(1) auxiliary space complexity
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro & Day 101 Streak (Trilogy Finale)
00:40 Problem Understanding & Constraints Analysis
01:35 Key Breakthrough: The Minimum Moves Trilogy
02:10 Optimal Linear Algorithm & Global Max Baseline
02:43 Clean Java 17 Solution Walkthrough Line by Line
03:22 Test Cases Walkthrough & Day 101 Streak Celebration
04:00 Time Complexity Analysis (O(N) Linear Scan)
04:27 Space Complexity Analysis (O(1) Constant Space)
04:48 Outro & Trilogy Conclusion!
📂 Problem Folder & Detailed Documentation:
https://github.com/CodeByTushu/CodeByTushu-LeetCode-Solutions/tree/main/solutions/November/03-November/3736-Minimum-Moves-to-Equal-Array-Elements-III
☕ Java Solution:
https://github.com/CodeByTushu/CodeByTushu-LeetCode-Solutions/blob/main/solutions/November/03-November/3736-Minimum-Moves-to-Equal-Array-Elements-III/Solution.java
🐍 Python Solution:
https://github.com/CodeByTushu/CodeByTushu-LeetCode-Solutions/blob/main/solutions/November/03-November/3736-Minimum-Moves-to-Equal-Array-Elements-III/solution.py
⚡ C++ Solution:
https://github.com/CodeByTushu/CodeByTushu-LeetCode-Solutions/blob/main/solutions/November/03-November/3736-Minimum-Moves-to-Equal-Array-Elements-III/solution.cpp
🌐 JavaScript Solution:
https://github.com/CodeByTushu/CodeByTushu-LeetCode-Solutions/blob/main/solutions/November/03-November/3736-Minimum-Moves-to-Equal-Array-Elements-III/solution.js
🔗 LeetCode Source Code
📌 https://codebytushu.com/leetcode/problem/minimum-moves-to-equal-array-elements-iii
🌐 All LeetCode Solutions
📌 https://codebytushu.com/Leetcode/
📱 Join CodeByTushu on WhatsApp
Get coding updates, LeetCode solutions, daily questions and more.
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8k5mCDeON2Xwlkxe40
❤️ Donate
📌 https://codebytushu.com/Leetcode/donate.php
🔥 Perfect For
LeetCode Easy Problems
Java DSA Preparation
Minimum Moves Trilogy
Array Manipulation
Greedy Optimization
Time Complexity Optimization
Coding Interview Preparation
Problem Solving
🌐 Follow CodeByTushu
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@codebytushu
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/codebytushu/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/codebytushu/
🌍 Website: https://codebytushu.com
🐙 GitHub: https://github.com/CodeByTushu
❤️ Don’t Forget To
👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe
💬 Question of the Day
Why must the target equal value be the maximum element in the array rather than the median or mean?
1️⃣ Because moves only allow incrementing an element by 1, so elements can never decrease
2️⃣ Because the median always minimizes the sum of squared differences
3️⃣ Because the mean is not guaranteed to be an integer
4️⃣ Because sorting is required to establish the baseline element
#LeetCode3736 #LeetCode #MinimumMovesToEqualArrayElementsIII #Java #JavaDSA #Array #Greedy #Math #DSA #CodingInterview #ProblemSolving #LeetCodeEasy #DailyLeetCode #JavaProgramming #CodeByTushu
👇 Comment the answer below! 🔥 Close description