B. Memory and Trident

Codeforces
IDCF712B
Time2000ms
Memory256MB
Difficulty
implementationstrings
English · Original
Chinese · Translation
Formal · Original
Memory is performing a walk on the two-dimensional plane, starting at the origin. He is given a string _s_ with his directions for motion: * An '_L_' indicates he should move one unit left. * An '_R_' indicates he should move one unit right. * A '_U_' indicates he should move one unit up. * A '_D_' indicates he should move one unit down. But now Memory wants to end at the origin. To do this, he has a special trident. This trident can replace any character in _s_ with any of '_L_', '_R_', '_U_', or '_D_'. However, because he doesn't want to wear out the trident, he wants to make the minimum number of edits possible. Please tell Memory what is the minimum number of changes he needs to make to produce a string that, when walked, will end at the origin, or if there is no such string. ## Input The first and only line contains the string _s_ (1 ≤ |_s_| ≤ 100 000) — the instructions Memory is given. ## Output If there is a string satisfying the conditions, output a single integer — the minimum number of edits required. In case it's not possible to change the sequence in such a way that it will bring Memory to to the origin, output _\-1_. [samples] ## Note In the first sample test, Memory is told to walk right, then right, then up. It is easy to see that it is impossible to edit these instructions to form a valid walk. In the second sample test, Memory is told to walk up, then down, then up, then right. One possible solution is to change _s_ to "_LDUR_". This string uses 1 edit, which is the minimum possible. It also ends at the origin.
Memory 在二维平面上从原点开始行走。他被给予一个字符串 #cf_span[s] 表示他的移动方向: 但现在 Memory 希望最终回到原点。为此,他拥有一个特殊的三叉戟。这个三叉戟可以将 #cf_span[s] 中的任意字符替换为 '_L_'、'_R_'、'_U_' 或 '_D_' 中的任意一个。然而,由于他不希望过度磨损三叉戟,他希望尽可能减少修改次数。请告诉 Memory,为了得到一个行走后能回到原点的字符串,他至少需要进行多少次修改;如果不存在这样的字符串,请输出 -1。 输入的第一行也是唯一一行包含字符串 #cf_span[s](#cf_span[1 ≤ |s| ≤ 100 000])——即 Memory 被给予的指令。 如果存在满足条件的字符串,请输出一个整数——所需的最少修改次数。如果无法通过修改序列使 Memory 回到原点,请输出 _-1_。 在第一个样例中,Memory 被要求向右、再向右、再向上。很容易看出,无法通过修改这些指令使其形成一条合法路径。 在第二个样例中,Memory 被要求向上、向下、向上、再向右。一种可能的解法是将 #cf_span[s] 改为 "_LDUR_"。该字符串仅需 1 次修改,这是可能的最小值,且最终回到原点。 ## Input 第一行也是唯一一行包含字符串 #cf_span[s](#cf_span[1 ≤ |s| ≤ 100 000])——即 Memory 被给予的指令。 ## Output 如果存在满足条件的字符串,请输出一个整数——所需的最少修改次数。如果无法通过修改序列使 Memory 回到原点,请输出 _-1_。 [samples] ## Note 在第一个样例中,Memory 被要求向右、再向右、再向上。很容易看出,无法通过修改这些指令使其形成一条合法路径。在第二个样例中,Memory 被要求向上、向下、向上、再向右。一种可能的解法是将 #cf_span[s] 改为 "_LDUR_"。该字符串仅需 1 次修改,这是可能的最小值,且最终回到原点。
Let $ s \in \{L, R, U, D\}^n $ be a string of length $ n = |s| $, where each character represents a unit step in one of four directions: - $ L $: $ (-1, 0) $ - $ R $: $ (1, 0) $ - $ U $: $ (0, 1) $ - $ D $: $ (0, -1) $ Let $ x $ and $ y $ denote the net displacement in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, after following the entire string $ s $. Define: - $ c_R $: count of $ R $ in $ s $ - $ c_L $: count of $ L $ in $ s $ - $ c_U $: count of $ U $ in $ s $ - $ c_D $: count of $ D $ in $ s $ Then: $$ x = c_R - c_L, \quad y = c_U - c_D $$ Memory may change any character in $ s $ to any of $ \{L, R, U, D\} $. Each change alters the displacement by at most 1 unit in one coordinate. Let $ \Delta x = -x $, $ \Delta y = -y $ be the required net correction to reach the origin. Each edit can adjust $ x $ by $ \pm 1 $ (by changing $ L \leftrightarrow R $) or $ y $ by $ \pm 1 $ (by changing $ U \leftrightarrow D $), or change a step in one axis to the other axis (e.g., $ R \to U $), which adjusts both $ x $ and $ y $ simultaneously. Let $ a = c_R + c_L $, $ b = c_U + c_D $, so $ a + b = n $. We wish to find the **minimum number of edits** to make the final displacement $ (0, 0) $. Let $ r = c_R $, $ l = c_L $, $ u = c_U $, $ d = c_D $. Then: $$ x = r - l, \quad y = u - d $$ We need: $$ r' - l' = 0, \quad u' - d' = 0 $$ where $ r' + l' + u' + d' = n $, and $ r', l', u', d' \geq 0 $ are integers. Let $ \delta_x = r - l $, $ \delta_y = u - d $. We must correct $ \delta_x $ and $ \delta_y $ to 0. Each edit can: 1. Change $ R \leftrightarrow L $: changes $ \delta_x $ by $ \pm 2 $ 2. Change $ U \leftrightarrow D $: changes $ \delta_y $ by $ \pm 2 $ 3. Change $ R \leftrightarrow U $, $ R \leftrightarrow D $, $ L \leftrightarrow U $, $ L \leftrightarrow D $: changes $ \delta_x $ and $ \delta_y $ each by $ \pm 1 $, in some combination. Let $ k $ be the number of edits. We want to minimize $ k $ such that there exist non-negative integers $ a, b, c, d $ with $ a + b + c + d = k $, where: - $ a $: number of $ R \leftrightarrow L $ swaps (each changes $ \delta_x $ by $ \pm 2 $) - $ b $: number of $ U \leftrightarrow D $ swaps (each changes $ \delta_y $ by $ \pm 2 $) - $ c $: number of axis-crossing edits (e.g., $ R \to U $, etc.) — each such edit can adjust $ \delta_x $ and $ \delta_y $ by $ \pm 1 $, independently But note: an axis-crossing edit can correct one unit of $ \delta_x $ and one unit of $ \delta_y $ simultaneously. Let $ dx = |\delta_x| $, $ dy = |\delta_y| $. We need to reduce $ dx $ and $ dy $ to 0. Each $ R \leftrightarrow L $ edit can reduce $ dx $ by 2 (if applied to excess $ R $ or $ L $). Each $ U \leftrightarrow D $ edit can reduce $ dy $ by 2. Each axis-crossing edit (e.g., changing an excess $ R $ to $ D $) can reduce $ dx $ by 1 and $ dy $ by 1, or $ dx $ by 1 and increase $ dy $ by 1, etc. — we can choose the direction to reduce both. So the optimal strategy is: - Use axis-crossing edits to correct as much as possible of both $ dx $ and $ dy $ simultaneously. - Then use same-axis swaps to correct the remaining even differences. Let $ m = \min(dx, dy) $. Then we can use $ m $ axis-crossing edits to reduce both $ dx $ and $ dy $ by $ m $, leaving $ dx' = dx - m $, $ dy' = dy - m $. Then we need to correct $ dx' $ and $ dy' $, which are now non-negative and one of them is 0. The remaining correction is $ dx' + dy' $, and since both are even (because $ dx - m $ and $ dy - m $ are both even or both odd? Not necessarily — wait, parity matters). Actually, note: the total displacement $ dx + dy $ has a parity constraint. Each edit changes the total displacement vector by a vector of $ \ell_1 $-norm 1 or 2. But observe: the **parity** of $ dx + dy $ modulo 2 is invariant under same-axis swaps (they change $ dx $ or $ dy $ by $ \pm 2 $, so parity of $ dx + dy $ unchanged), and under axis-crossing edits: changing $ R \to U $, for example, decreases $ dx $ by 1 and increases $ dy $ by 1 → $ dx + dy $ unchanged. Similarly, any axis-crossing edit changes $ dx $ and $ dy $ by $ \pm 1 $ in opposite directions, so $ dx + dy $ remains unchanged modulo 2. Therefore, $ dx + dy \mod 2 $ is invariant under all edits. But we need $ dx + dy = 0 $, so if the initial $ dx + dy $ is odd, it is **impossible**. Wait: we need final $ dx = 0 $, $ dy = 0 $, so $ dx + dy = 0 $, even. So if $ (c_R - c_L) + (c_U - c_D) \not\equiv 0 \pmod{2} $, then impossible. But actually, that’s not the right invariant. The invariant is the **parity of the total displacement vector**, but we care about whether we can reach (0,0). Actually, the key invariant is: **the parity of $ n $**. Each step is one unit. After $ n $ steps, to return to origin, the total displacement is zero, so the number of steps must be even? No — for example, 2 steps: R then L → 0, even. But 1 step: can’t return. In fact, to return to origin, the number of steps must be even, because each step is ±1 in one coordinate, so to cancel, you need even number of steps in each axis. More precisely: to have $ r = l $ and $ u = d $, then $ r + l + u + d = n $ must be even, because $ r + l = 2r $, $ u + d = 2u $, so $ n = 2(r + u) $, even. Therefore, **necessary condition**: $ n $ must be even. If $ n $ is odd, output $-1$. If $ n $ is even, then we can attempt to fix. Now, we need to make $ r' = l' $, $ u' = d' $, so total steps per axis must be even. Let $ a = r + l $, $ b = u + d $, $ a + b = n $, even. We need $ r' = l' = a'/2 $, $ u' = d' = b'/2 $, so $ a' $ and $ b' $ must be even. But we can change steps between axes. Let $ r $, $ l $, $ u $, $ d $ be current counts. We want to choose non-negative integers $ r', l', u', d' $ such that: - $ r' + l' + u' + d' = n $ - $ r' = l' $ - $ u' = d' $ - Minimize the number of changes: $ \frac{1}{2} \left( |r - r'| + |l - l'| + |u - u'| + |d - d'| \right) $ But since $ r' = l' $, $ u' = d' $, let $ r' = l' = x $, $ u' = d' = y $, then $ 2x + 2y = n \Rightarrow x + y = n/2 $. We need to choose $ x, y \geq 0 $, integers, $ x + y = n/2 $, to minimize: $$ \frac{1}{2} \left( |r - x| + |l - x| + |u - y| + |d - y| \right) $$ But note: $ r + l = a $, $ u + d = b $, $ a + b = n $. We can rewrite the cost as: $$ \text{cost}(x) = \frac{1}{2} \left( |r - x| + |l - x| + |u - (n/2 - x)| + |d - (n/2 - x)| \right) $$ Let $ f(x) = |r - x| + |l - x| + |u - (n/2 - x)| + |d - (n/2 - x)| $ We want to minimize $ f(x) $ over integers $ x \in [0, n/2] $. Note that $ |r - x| + |l - x| $ is minimized when $ x $ is between $ r $ and $ l $, and equals $ |r - l| $ if $ x \in [\min(r,l), \max(r,l)] $, but actually: The function $ |r - x| + |l - x| $ is minimized at any $ x $ in $ [\min(r,l), \max(r,l)] $, and the minimum value is $ |r - l| $. Similarly, $ |u - y| + |d - y| $ with $ y = n/2 - x $ is minimized when $ y \in [\min(u,d), \max(u,d)] $, and minimum value $ |u - d| $. But we are constrained by $ y = n/2 - x $. So we have: Let $ dx = |r - l| $, $ dy = |u - d| $ Then $ f(x) \geq dx + dy $, and equality holds if $ x \in [\min(r,l), \max(r,l)] $ and $ n/2 - x \in [\min(u,d), \max(u,d)] $ That is, if the intervals $ [\min(r,l), \max(r,l)] $ and $ [n/2 - \max(u,d), n/2 - \min(u,d)] $ overlap. But perhaps a simpler way: We need to correct the imbalance. Let $ \delta_x = r - l $, $ \delta_y = u - d $ We need to make $ \delta_x = 0 $, $ \delta_y = 0 $ Each edit can: - Change an $ R $ to $ L $: $ \delta_x \leftarrow \delta_x - 2 $ - Change an $ L $ to $ R $: $ \delta_x \leftarrow \delta_x + 2 $ - Change a $ U $ to $ D $: $ \delta_y \leftarrow \delta_y - 2 $ - Change a $ D $ to $ U $: $ \delta_y \leftarrow \delta_y + 2 $ - Change an $ R $ to $ U $: $ \delta_x \leftarrow \delta_x - 1 $, $ \delta_y \leftarrow \delta_y + 1 $ - Change an $ R $ to $ D $: $ \delta_x \leftarrow \delta_x - 1 $, $ \delta_y \leftarrow \delta_y - 1 $ - Similarly for $ L \to U $, $ L \to D $, etc. So we can model this as: we have two integers $ \delta_x, \delta_y $, and we can apply operations: - Type A: $ (\pm 2, 0) $ - Type B: $ (0, \pm 2) $ - Type C: $ (\pm 1, \pm 1) $ — four variants We want the minimum number of operations to reach $ (0,0) $. Let $ a = |\delta_x| $, $ b = |\delta_y| $ We can use Type C operations to reduce both $ a $ and $ b $ simultaneously. Each Type C reduces $ a $ and $ b $ by 1, but only if we choose the correct sign. So we can use $ m = \min(a, b) $ Type C operations to reduce both to $ a - m $, $ b - m $. Then we are left with $ a' = a - m $, $ b' = b - m $, one of which is 0. Say $ a' > 0 $, $ b' = 0 $. Then we need to reduce $ a' $ to 0 using Type A operations, each of which reduces by 2. So we need $ \lceil a' / 2 \rceil $ operations? But since $ a' $ is even? Not necessarily. Wait: what is the parity? Note: each operation changes $ \delta_x + \delta_y $ by: - Type A: $ \pm 2 $ → parity of $ \delta_x + \delta_y $ unchanged - Type B: $ \pm 2 $ → unchanged - Type C: $ \pm 1 \pm 1 $ → $ \pm 2 $, 0, or $ \pm 2 $ → always even change So $ \delta_x + \delta_y \mod 2 $ is invariant. Initially, $ \delta_x + \delta_y = (r - l) + (u - d) $ Final: 0. So if $ (r - l) + (u - d) \not\equiv 0 \pmod{2} $, then impossible. But also, since total steps $ n = r + l + u + d $, and we need $ r' = l' $, $ u' = d' $, so $ r' + l' + u' + d' = 2(r' + u') = n $, so $ n $ must be even. So necessary conditions: 1. $ n $ even 2. $ (r - l) + (u - d) \equiv 0 \pmod{2} $ But $ (r - l) + (u - d) = (r + u) - (l + d) $, and since $ r + l + u + d = n $, then $ (r + u) - (l + d) = 2(r + u) - n $, so $ 2(r + u) - n \equiv 0 \pmod{2} $ → always true if $ n $ even. So only condition: **n must be even**. If $ n $ is odd → impossible → output -1. If $ n $ is even, then we can always fix it. Now, how many edits? Let $ \delta_x = r - l $, $ \delta_y = u - d $ We need to reduce $ |\delta_x| $ and $ |\delta_y| $ to 0. Let $ a = |\delta_x| $, $ b = |\delta_y| $ We can use $ m = \min(a, b) $ axis-crossing edits (Type C) to reduce both by $ m $, leaving $ a' = a - m $, $ b' = b - m $ Then we need to reduce $ a' $ and $ b' $, one of which is 0. Say $ a' > 0 $, $ b' = 0 $. Then we need $ a' / 2 $ same-axis edits (Type A), since each changes $ \delta_x $ by $ \pm 2 $. Similarly if $ b' > 0 $. So total edits: $ m + \frac{a'}{2} + \frac{b'}{2} = \min(a,b) + \frac{|a - b|}{2} = \frac{a + b}{2} $ Because $ \min(a,b) + \frac{|a - b|}{2} = \frac{2 \min(a,b) + |a - b|}{2} = \frac{ \max(a,b) + \min(a,b) }{2} = \frac{a + b}{2} $ So the minimum number of edits is $ \frac{ |\delta_x| + |\delta_y| }{2} $ But $ |\delta_x| + |\delta_y| = |r - l| + |u - d| $ And since $ n $ is even, this is always an integer? Not necessarily — but $ |\delta_x| + |\delta_y| $ is even because $ \delta_x + \delta_y \equiv 0 \pmod{2} $, and $ \delta_x - \delta_y \equiv 0 \pmod{2} $? Not necessarily. Wait: $ \delta_x = r - l $, $ \delta_y = u - d $ $ \delta_x + \delta_y = (r + u) - (l + d) $ $ \delta_x - \delta_y = (r - u) - (l - d) $ But we know $ r + l + u + d = n $ even. But $ \delta_x + \delta_y = (r + u) - (l + d) = 2(r + u) - n $, which is even since $ n $ even. So $ \delta_x + \delta_y $ even → $ \delta_x \equiv \delta_y \pmod{2} $ Therefore $ |\delta_x| \equiv |\delta_y| \pmod{2} $, so $ |\delta_x| + |\delta_y| $ even → divisible by 2. Thus, minimum edits = $ \frac{ |r - l| + |u - d| }{2} $ **Final Answer:** If $ |s| $ is odd → output $-1$ Else → output $ \frac{ |(\text{count of } R) - (\text{count of } L)| + |(\text{count of } U) - (\text{count of } D)| }{2} $ In code: ```python s = input().strip() n = len(s) if n % 2 == 1: print(-1) else: c = {'L': 0, 'R': 0, 'U': 0, 'D': 0} for char in s: c[char] += 1 dx = c['R'] - c['L'] dy = c['U'] - c['D'] print((abs(dx) + abs(dy)) // 2) ```
Samples
Input #1
RRU
Output #1
\-1
Input #2
UDUR
Output #2
1
Input #3
RUUR
Output #3
2
API Response (JSON)
{
  "problem": {
    "name": "B. Memory and Trident",
    "description": {
      "content": "Memory is performing a walk on the two-dimensional plane, starting at the origin. He is given a string _s_ with his directions for motion: *   An '_L_' indicates he should move one unit left. *   An ",
      "description_type": "Markdown"
    },
    "platform": "Codeforces",
    "limit": {
      "time_limit": 2000,
      "memory_limit": 262144
    },
    "difficulty": "None",
    "is_remote": true,
    "is_sync": true,
    "sync_url": null,
    "sign": "CF712B"
  },
  "statements": [
    {
      "statement_type": "Markdown",
      "content": "Memory is performing a walk on the two-dimensional plane, starting at the origin. He is given a string _s_ with his directions for motion:\n\n*   An '_L_' indicates he should move one unit left.\n*   An ...",
      "is_translate": false,
      "language": "English"
    },
    {
      "statement_type": "Markdown",
      "content": "Memory 在二维平面上从原点开始行走。他被给予一个字符串 #cf_span[s] 表示他的移动方向:\n\n但现在 Memory 希望最终回到原点。为此,他拥有一个特殊的三叉戟。这个三叉戟可以将 #cf_span[s] 中的任意字符替换为 '_L_'、'_R_'、'_U_' 或 '_D_' 中的任意一个。然而,由于他不希望过度磨损三叉戟,他希望尽可能减少修改次数。请告诉 Memory,为了得到一个...",
      "is_translate": true,
      "language": "Chinese"
    },
    {
      "statement_type": "Markdown",
      "content": "Let $ s \\in \\{L, R, U, D\\}^n $ be a string of length $ n = |s| $, where each character represents a unit step in one of four directions:\n\n- $ L $: $ (-1, 0) $\n- $ R $: $ (1, 0) $\n- $ U $: $ (0, 1) $\n-...",
      "is_translate": false,
      "language": "Formal"
    }
  ]
}
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