The Runtime Theory
mediumLeetCode#dynamic-programming#hash-set

Word Break

Determine whether a string can be segmented into dictionary words.

The Runtime Theory Team25 min read
Solve it

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

Sample cases

ins="leetcode", words=["leet","code"]

outtrue

ins="applepenapple", words=["apple","pen"]

outtrue

ins="catsandog", words=["cats","dog","sand","and","cat"]

outfalse

Determine whether a string can be segmented into dictionary words.

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

Let dp[i] mean the prefix through i can be segmented. Bound checks with the longest dictionary word.

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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