The Runtime Theory
mediumLeetCode#dynamic-programming#counting

Target Sum

Count plus-or-minus assignments whose total equals the target.

The Runtime Theory Team25 min read
Solve it

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

Sample cases

innums=[1,1,1,1,1], target=3

out5

innums=[1], target=1

out1

innums=[1], target=2

out0

Count plus-or-minus assignments whose total equals the target.

A good solution should

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

Reasoning prompt

Relate sign assignments to subset-sum counting or map running totals; preserve multiplicity for repeated values.

Use the linked judge for the canonical challenge. The examples above are compact TRT checks; create additional tests around the boundary most likely to break your 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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