find-the-middle-index-in-array

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1991. Find the Middle Index in Array (Easy)

Given a 0-indexed integer array nums, find the leftmost middleIndex (i.e., the smallest amongst all the possible ones).

A middleIndex is an index where nums[0] + nums[1] + ... + nums[middleIndex-1] == nums[middleIndex+1] + nums[middleIndex+2] + ... + nums[nums.length-1].

If middleIndex == 0, the left side sum is considered to be 0. Similarly, if middleIndex == nums.length - 1, the right side sum is considered to be 0.

Return the leftmost middleIndex that satisfies the condition, or -1 if there is no such index.

 

Example 1:

Input: nums = [2,3,-1,8,4]
Output: 3
Explanation: The sum of the numbers before index 3 is: 2 + 3 + -1 = 4
The sum of the numbers after index 3 is: 4 = 4

Example 2:

Input: nums = [1,-1,4]
Output: 2
Explanation: The sum of the numbers before index 2 is: 1 + -1 = 0
The sum of the numbers after index 2 is: 0

Example 3:

Input: nums = [2,5]
Output: -1
Explanation: There is no valid middleIndex.

 

Constraints:

• 1 <= nums.length <= 100
• -1000 <= nums[i] <= 1000

 

Note: This question is the same as 724: https://leetcode.com/problems/find-pivot-index/

Related Topics

[Array] [Prefix Sum]

Hints

Hint 1

Could we go from left to right and check to see if an index is a middle index?

Hint 2

Do we need to sum every number to the left and right of an index each time?

Hint 3

Use a prefix sum array where prefix[i] = nums[0] + nums[1] + ... + nums[i].