LeetCode 398. Random Pick Index

Problem Statement

(Source) Given an array of integers with possible duplicates, randomly output the index of a given target number. You can assume that the given target number must exist in the array.

Note:
The array size can be very large. Solution that uses too much extra space will not pass the judge.

Example:

int[] nums = new int[] {1,2,3,3,3};
Solution solution = new Solution(nums);

// pick(3) should return either index 2, 3, or 4 randomly. Each index should have equal probability of returning.
solution.pick(3);

// pick(1) should return 0. Since in the array only nums[0] is equal to 1.
solution.pick(1);

Solution

Tags: Reservoir Sampling.

If we can assume random.random() is real random generator…

class Solution(object):

    def __init__(self, nums):
        """

        :type nums: List[int]
        :type numsSize: int
        """
        self.nums = nums

    def pick(self, target):
        """
        :type target: int
        :rtype: int
        """
        res = None
        y = -1
        for i, num in enumerate(self.nums):
            if num == target:
                x = random.random()
                if x > y:
                    y = x
                    res = i
        return res


# Your Solution object will be instantiated and called as such:
# obj = Solution(nums)
# param_1 = obj.pick(target)