The Runtime Theory
hardLeetCode#monotonic-stack#nearest-smaller

Largest Rectangle in Histogram

Find the largest axis-aligned rectangle that fits entirely under adjacent histogram bars.

The Runtime Theory Team25 min read
Solve it

Solving happens on the judge — come back and mark it done

Sample cases

inheights=[2,1,5,6,2,3]

out10

inheights=[2,4]

out4

inheights=[]

out0

Find the largest axis-aligned rectangle that fits entirely under adjacent histogram bars.

A good solution should

  • State the invariant or decision rule that makes the approach correct.
  • Explain the time and space complexity in terms of the input sizes and required output.
  • Handle empty, minimal, duplicate, and boundary-shaped inputs covered by the contract.

Reasoning prompt

For each bar, find the nearest strictly lower bar on each side. Add a sentinel or flush the stack at the end.

Use the linked judge for the canonical problem. The examples above are compact TRT checks; write additional cases before submitting, especially for the boundary that tends to break your chosen invariant.

More practice in this topic

One dispatch a week

The trace behind each problem, the tradeoff that explains it, and one technical dispatch per week — no noise.

One technical dispatch per week. No noise.

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