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2169 - Count Operations to Obtain Zero (Easy)

https://leetcode.com/problems/count-operations-to-obtain-zero/

Problem Statement​

You are given two non-negative integers num1 and num2.

In one operation, if num1 >= num2, you must subtract num2 from num1, otherwise subtract num1 from num2.

  • For example, if num1 = 5 and num2 = 4, subtract num2 from num1, thus obtaining num1 = 1 and num2 = 4. However, if num1 = 4 and num2 = 5, after one operation, num1 = 4 and num2 = 1.

Return the number of operations required to make either num1 = 0 or num2 = 0.

Example 1:

Input: num1 = 2, num2 = 3
Output: 3
Explanation: 
- Operation 1: num1 = 2, num2 = 3. Since num1 < num2, we subtract num1 from num2 and get num1 = 2, num2 = 3 - 2 = 1.
- Operation 2: num1 = 2, num2 = 1. Since num1 > num2, we subtract num2 from num1.
- Operation 3: num1 = 1, num2 = 1. Since num1 == num2, we subtract num2 from num1.
Now num1 = 0 and num2 = 1. Since num1 == 0, we do not need to perform any further operations.
So the total number of operations required is 3.

Example 2:

Input: num1 = 10, num2 = 10
Output: 1
Explanation: 
- Operation 1: num1 = 10, num2 = 10. Since num1 == num2, we subtract num2 from num1 and get num1 = 10 - 10 = 0.
Now num1 = 0 and num2 = 10. Since num1 == 0, we are done.
So the total number of operations required is 1.

Constraints:

  • 0 <= num1, num2 <= 10^5

Approach 1: Simulation​

Just do what it says. If num1 >= num2, we subtract num2 from num1, otherwise subtract num1 from num2. Increase answer by 1 in each iteration.

Written by @wingkwong
class Solution {
public:
    int countOperations(int num1, int num2) {
        int ans = 0;
        while (num1 != 0 && num2 != 0) {
            if (num1 >= num2) num1 -= num2;
            else num2 -= num1;
            ans += 1;
        }
        return ans;
    }
};