The Runtime Theory
mediumLeetCode#union-find#bfs

Number of Connected Components

Count connected components in an undirected graph with n vertices.

The Runtime Theory Team25 min read
Solve it

Solving happens on the judge — come back and mark it done

Sample cases

inn=5, edges=[[0,1],[1,2],[3,4]]

out2

inn=5, edges=[[0,1],[1,2],[2,3],[3,4]]

out1

inn=3, edges=[]

out3

Count connected components in an undirected graph with n vertices.

A good solution should

  • State the invariant or decision rule that makes the approach correct.
  • Explain time and space costs in terms of input size and required output.
  • Handle empty, minimal, duplicate, and boundary-shaped inputs.

Reasoning prompt

Traverse each unvisited vertex or union all edges. An isolated vertex is its own component.

Use the linked judge for the canonical challenge. The examples above are compact TRT checks; create additional tests around the boundary most likely to break your invariant.

More practice in this topic

One dispatch a week

The trace behind each problem, the tradeoff that explains it, and one technical dispatch per week — no noise.

One technical dispatch per week. No noise.

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