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Adding approach change #2859

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21 changes: 21 additions & 0 deletions exercises/practice/change/.approaches/config.json
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{
"introduction": {
"authors": [
"jagdish-15"
]
},
"approaches": [
{
"uuid": "d0b615ca-3a02-4d66-ad10-e0c513062189",
"slug": "dynamic-programming",
"title": "Dynamic Programming Approach",
"blurb": "Use dynamic programming to find the most efficient change combination.",
"authors": [
"jagdish-15"
],
"contributors": [
"kahgoh"
]
}
]
}
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# Dynamic Programming Approach

```java
import java.util.List;
import java.util.ArrayList;

class ChangeCalculator {
private final List<Integer> currencyCoins;

ChangeCalculator(List<Integer> currencyCoins) {
this.currencyCoins = currencyCoins;
}

List<Integer> computeMostEfficientChange(int grandTotal) {
if (grandTotal < 0)
throw new IllegalArgumentException("Negative totals are not allowed.");

List<List<Integer>> coinsUsed = new ArrayList<>(grandTotal + 1);
coinsUsed.add(new ArrayList<Integer>());

for (int i = 1; i <= grandTotal; i++) {
List<Integer> bestCombination = null;
for (int coin: currencyCoins) {
if (coin <= i && coinsUsed.get(i - coin) != null) {
List<Integer> currentCombination = new ArrayList<>(coinsUsed.get(i - coin));
currentCombination.add(0, coin);
if (bestCombination == null || currentCombination.size() < bestCombination.size())
bestCombination = currentCombination;
}
}
coinsUsed.add(bestCombination);
}

if (coinsUsed.get(grandTotal) == null)
throw new IllegalArgumentException("The total " + grandTotal + " cannot be represented in the given currency.");

return coinsUsed.get(grandTotal);
}
}
```

The **Dynamic Programming (DP)** approach is an efficient way to solve the problem of making change for a given total using a list of available coin denominations.
It minimizes the number of coins needed by breaking down the problem into smaller subproblems and solving them progressively.

This approach ensures that we find the most efficient way to make change and handles edge cases where no solution exists.
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I find this sentence redundant because all the approaches will need to do this to successfully solve the exercise.

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This approach ensures that we find the most efficient way to make change and handles edge cases where no solution exists.

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Yep, I can't deny! I will remove this sentence altogether.


## Explanation
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1. **Initialize Coins Usage Tracker**:
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Similar to one the comments on the Queen Attack approach, should this be a heading?

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1. **Initialize Coins Usage Tracker**:
### Initialize Coins Usage Tracker


- We create a list `coinsUsed`, where each index `i` stores the most efficient combination of coins that sum up to the value `i`.
- The list is initialized with an empty list at index `0`, as no coins are needed to achieve a total of zero.

2. **Iterative Dynamic Programming**:
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2. **Iterative Dynamic Programming**:
### Iterative Dynamic Programming


- For each value `i` from 1 to `grandTotal`, we explore all available coin denominations to find the best combination that can achieve the total `i`.
- For each coin, we check if it can be part of the solution (i.e., if `coin <= i` and `coinsUsed[i - coin]` is a valid combination).
- If so, we generate a new combination by adding the current coin to the solution for `i - coin`. We then compare the size of this new combination with the existing best combination and keep the one with fewer coins.

3. **Result**:
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3. **Result**:
### Result


- After processing all values up to `grandTotal`, the combination at `coinsUsed[grandTotal]` will represent the most efficient solution.
- If no valid combination exists for `grandTotal`, an exception is thrown.

## Key Points
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I think the core of this document should be focusing on the specifics of how the approach works. From that point of view, I think the Key Points heading/section is confusing as Time Complexity and Space Complexity isn't a core part of the implementation, but I do think we can certainly mention them. Perhaps we could remove the heading.

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## Key Points

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Sure, I've removed this heading.


- **Time Complexity**: The time complexity of this approach is **O(n * m)**, where `n` is the `grandTotal` and `m` is the number of available coin denominations. This is because we iterate over all coin denominations for each amount up to `grandTotal`.
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- **Space Complexity**: The space complexity is **O(n)** due to the list `coinsUsed`, which stores the most efficient coin combination for each total up to `grandTotal`.
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- **Edge Cases**:
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Suggest moving the points from the edge cases to be with your explanation as they are part of the implementation details. Idalso suggest separating them to follow the order of the code to make it easier to follow (i.e putting the point about checking if grandTotal is negative to the top and one about if no exact total to the bottom of the explanation).

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I've moved the first point to the start of the explanation as you suggested and removed the second point since it's already covered at the end, just before the 'Time Complexity' section.


- If the `grandTotal` is negative, an exception is thrown immediately.
- If there is no way to make the exact total with the given denominations, an exception is thrown with a descriptive message.

## Conclusion

The dynamic programming approach provides an optimal solution for the change-making problem, ensuring that we minimize the number of coins used while efficiently solving the problem for any `grandTotal`.
However, it’s essential to consider the trade-offs in terms of memory usage and the time complexity when dealing with very large inputs.
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I think we could remove this conclusion section. Similar to my earlier comment, I think the first sentence is redundant as all approaches have find the optimal solution to be valid. The second sentence would probably make more sense in a Which approach to use? section if we have more approaches.

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I agree! I've removed the conclusion section altogether.

Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
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class ChangeCalculator {
private final List<Integer> currencyCoins;

ChangeCalculator(List<Integer> currencyCoins) {
this.currencyCoins = currencyCoins;
}
// computeMostEfficientChange method
}
27 changes: 27 additions & 0 deletions exercises/practice/change/.approaches/introduction.md
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# Introduction

There is an idiomatic approach to solving "Change."
You can use [dynamic programming][dynamic-programming] to calculate the minimum number of coins required for a given total.

## General guidance

The key to solving "Change" is understanding that not all totals can be reached with the available coin denominations.
The solution needs to figure out which totals can be achieved and how to combine the coins optimally.

## Approach: Dynamic Programming

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Our solution uses a **dynamic programming approach**, where we systematically build up the optimal combinations for all totals from `0` up to the target amount (`grandTotal`).
For each total, we track the fewest coins needed to make that total, reusing previous results to make the solution efficient.

This approach ensures that we find the minimum number of coins required in a structured, repeatable way, avoiding the need for complex recursive calls or excessive backtracking.

## Key Features of the Approach

- **Efficiency**: By building solutions for each increment up to `grandTotal`, this approach minimizes redundant calculations.
- **Flexibility**: Handles cases where exact change is impossible by checking at each step.
- **Scalability**: Works for various coin denominations and totals, though large inputs may impact performance.

For a detailed look at the code and logic, see the full explanation in the [Dynamic Programming Approach][approach-dynamic-programming].

[approach-dynamic-programming]: https://exercism.org/tracks/java/exercises/change/approaches/dynamic-programming
[dynamic-programming]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_programming