Interval DP

You've compared sequences with LCS. Now solve problems where the answer depends on breaking ranges apart.

45 lessons
182 min
Codeforces: 1500-2200LeetCode: 1700-2100

Lessons

1. Intro

Why ranges need special thinking

4m

2. Core Concept

Range-based states

4m

3. Vocabulary - Interval

Range definition

4m

4. The Split Point Approach

Dividing ranges

4m

5. Loop Order

Why length matters

4m

6. Quiz: Interval DP Basics

Testing core concepts

3m1 problems

7. LeetCode 516 Longest Palindromic Subsequence - Problem Statement

Entry problem

3m1 problems

8. LeetCode 516 Longest Palindromic Subsequence - Key Observation

Endpoints determine structure

4m

9. LeetCode 516 Longest Palindromic Subsequence - State Design

The 2D table

4m

10. LeetCode 516 Longest Palindromic Subsequence - Transition

Match or skip

5m

11. LeetCode 516 Longest Palindromic Subsequence - Implementation

The code

7m1 problems

12. LeetCode 516 Longest Palindromic Subsequence - Walkthrough

Tracing the algorithm

4m

13. Quiz: LPS Transition

Understanding the recurrence

3m1 problems

14. Lessons from LPS

summary

4m

15. Matrix Chain Multiplication - Problem Statement

Classic interval DP

3m1 problems

16. Matrix Chain Multiplication - The Setup

Understanding dimensions

5m

17. Matrix Chain Multiplication - State Definition

What dp[i][j] means

4m

18. Matrix Chain Multiplication - Transition

Try all split points

5m

19. Matrix Chain Multiplication - Implementation

The code

5m1 problems

20. Matrix Chain Multiplication - Walkthrough

Tracing optimal splits

4m

21. Challenge: Matrix Chain Reconstruction

Finding optimal parenthesization

4m

22. Quiz: Matrix Chain Complexity

Understanding the cost

3m1 problems

23. Lessons from Matrix Chain

summary

4m

24. LeetCode 312 Burst Balloons - Problem Statement

LeetCode 312

3m1 problems

25. LeetCode 312 Burst Balloons - The Trick

Think about last

4m

26. LeetCode 312 Burst Balloons - State Definition

Open intervals

4m

27. LeetCode 312 Burst Balloons - Transition

Last balloon

4m

28. LeetCode 312 Burst Balloons - Implementation

The code

5m1 problems

29. LeetCode 312 Burst Balloons - Walkthrough

Tracing the trick

4m

30. Quiz: Burst Balloons Insight

Why think backwards

3m1 problems

31. Lessons from Burst Balloons

summary

4m

32. LeetCode 132 Palindrome Partitioning II - Problem Statement

LeetCode 132

3m1 problems

33. LeetCode 132 Palindrome Partitioning II - Two DPs

Precompute + solve

5m

34. LeetCode 132 Palindrome Partitioning II - Implementation

The code

5m1 problems

35. LeetCode 132 Palindrome Partitioning II - Walkthrough

Minimum cuts trace

4m

36. Challenge: Palindrome Partitioning All

Finding all partitions

4m

37. Pattern - Interval DP

When to use it

4m

38. LeetCode 877 Stone Game - Problem Statement

Interval DP game

3m

39. LeetCode 877 Stone Game - Implementation

Game theory meets intervals

5m

40. Quiz: Stone Game Insight

Difference formulation

3m1 problems

41. LeetCode 1039 Minimum Score Triangulation of Polygon - Problem Statement

Polygon DP

3m

42. LeetCode 1039 Minimum Score Triangulation of Polygon - Implementation

MCM variant

5m

43. Pattern - When Interval DP

Recognizing the pattern

4m

44. What's Next

Preview of Tree DP

4m

45. Section Recap

What we learned

5m

Practice Problems

1.

Perfect intro to interval DP - merge adjacent elements pattern.

2.
Removal GameCSESmedium

Adds game theory - think from opponent's perspective.

3.
ZumaCodeforcesmedium

Palindrome removal with interval merging when endpoints match.

4.
Burst BalloonsLeetCodehard

Classic - think backwards, consider each balloon as LAST to burst.

5.

3D DP with K-pile constraint - teaches when problems are impossible.

6.

Covered with full walkthrough in this section.

7.

Covered with full walkthrough in this section.

8.
Coloring BracketsCodeforcesmedium

Color balanced brackets with constraints. Interval DP on bracket structures.

9.

Count palindromic substrings in ranges. Precompute with interval DP, answer queries O(1).

10.
Recovering BSTCodeforceshard

Build BST where adjacent nodes share common factor. Interval DP with number theory twist.

11.

Classic interval DP - order cuts to minimize total cost. Direct MCM variant.

12.
Remove BoxesLeetCodehard

Maximize points removing consecutive boxes. 3D interval DP with extra state.

13.
Short Colorful StripCodeforceshard

Count ways to paint strip with interval constraints. Classic interval DP counting.

14.
Sequence Pair WeightCodeforcesmedium

Sum of equal pair weights in subarrays. Contribution technique with DP.

15.
The Sports FestivalCodeforcesmedium

Minimize sum of max-min in prefixes. Interval DP on sorted array.

16.
Array ShrinkingCodeforceshard

Minimize array by merging equal adjacent pairs. Interval DP with value tracking.

17.
Xor of 3Codeforcesmedium

Make array zero with XOR operations. Interval-style parity analysis.

18.

Select non-overlapping intervals to maximize score - segment tree optimized interval DP.

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