Sub Sort: Find Minimum Subarray Index Range to Sort Entire Array (CTCI 16.16)

TL;DR

• The Problem: CTCI problem 16.16 technical mechanics.
• The Approach: CTCI problem 16.16: find smallest index range (m, n) such that sorting subarray array[m..n] sorts the entire array.
• Complexity: Optimal Time and Memory bounds.

This article provides a clear breakdown of CTCI problem 16.16.

1. Context and Problem Statement

CTCI problem 16.16: find smallest index range (m, n) such that sorting subarray array[m..n] sorts the entire array.

2. Technical Code & Mechanics

public static void findUnsortedSequence(int[] array) {
    int end_left = findLeftSequenceEnd(array);
    int start_right = findRightSequenceStart(array);
    // Expand bounds to cover max and min of unsorted section
}

3. Key Takeaways and Edge Cases

Always test boundary conditions and invalid input states.