LeetCode #2886 — EASY

Change Data Type

Build confidence with an intuition-first walkthrough focused on core interview patterns fundamentals.

The Problem

Problem Statement

DataFrame students
+-------------+--------+
| Column Name | Type   |
+-------------+--------+
| student_id  | int    |
| name        | object |
| age         | int    |
| grade       | float  |
+-------------+--------+

Write a solution to correct the errors:

The grade column is stored as floats, convert it to integers.

The result format is in the following example.

Example 1:
Input:
DataFrame students:
+------------+------+-----+-------+
| student_id | name | age | grade |
+------------+------+-----+-------+
| 1          | Ava  | 6   | 73.0  |
| 2          | Kate | 15  | 87.0  |
+------------+------+-----+-------+
Output:
+------------+------+-----+-------+
| student_id | name | age | grade |
+------------+------+-----+-------+
| 1          | Ava  | 6   | 73    |
| 2          | Kate | 15  | 87    |
+------------+------+-----+-------+
Explanation: 
The data types of the column grade is converted to int.

Step 01

Brute Force Baseline

Baseline thinking

Start with the most direct exhaustive search. That gives a correctness anchor before optimizing.

Pattern signal: General problem-solving

Example 1

{"headers":{"students":["student_id","name","age","grade"]},"rows":{"students":[[1,"Ava",6,73.0],[2,"Kate",15,87.0]]}}

Step 02

Core Insight

What unlocks the optimal approach

Consider using a build-in function in pandas library with a dictionary to convert the datatype of columns as specified.

Interview move: turn each hint into an invariant you can check after every iteration/recursion step.

Step 03

Algorithm Walkthrough

Iteration Checklist

Define state (indices, window, stack, map, DP cell, or recursion frame).
Apply one transition step and update the invariant.
Record answer candidate when condition is met.
Continue until all input is consumed.

Use the first example testcase as your mental trace to verify each transition.

Step 04

Edge Cases

Minimum Input

Single element / shortest valid input

Validate boundary behavior before entering the main loop or recursion.

Duplicates & Repeats

Repeated values / repeated states

Decide whether duplicates should be merged, skipped, or counted explicitly.

Extreme Constraints

Upper-end input sizes

Re-check complexity target against constraints to avoid time-limit issues.

Invalid / Corner Shape

Empty collections, zeros, or disconnected structures

Handle special-case structure before the core algorithm path.

Step 05

Full Annotated Code

Source-backed implementations are provided below for direct study and interview prep.

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #2886: Change Data Type
// Auto-generated Java example from py.
class Solution {
    public void exampleSolution() {
    }
}
// Reference (py):
// # Accepted solution for LeetCode #2886: Change Data Type
// import pandas as pd
// 
// 
// def changeDatatype(students: pd.DataFrame) -> pd.DataFrame:
//     students['grade'] = students['grade'].astype(int)
//     return students

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #2886: Change Data Type
// Auto-generated Go example from py.
func exampleSolution() {
}
// Reference (py):
// # Accepted solution for LeetCode #2886: Change Data Type
// import pandas as pd
// 
// 
// def changeDatatype(students: pd.DataFrame) -> pd.DataFrame:
//     students['grade'] = students['grade'].astype(int)
//     return students

# Accepted solution for LeetCode #2886: Change Data Type
import pandas as pd


def changeDatatype(students: pd.DataFrame) -> pd.DataFrame:
    students['grade'] = students['grade'].astype(int)
    return students

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #2886: Change Data Type
// Rust example auto-generated from py reference.
// Replace the signature and local types with the exact LeetCode harness for this problem.
impl Solution {
    pub fn rust_example() {
        // Port the logic from the reference block below.
    }
}

// Reference (py):
// # Accepted solution for LeetCode #2886: Change Data Type
// import pandas as pd
// 
// 
// def changeDatatype(students: pd.DataFrame) -> pd.DataFrame:
//     students['grade'] = students['grade'].astype(int)
//     return students

// Accepted solution for LeetCode #2886: Change Data Type
// Auto-generated TypeScript example from py.
function exampleSolution(): void {
}
// Reference (py):
// # Accepted solution for LeetCode #2886: Change Data Type
// import pandas as pd
// 
// 
// def changeDatatype(students: pd.DataFrame) -> pd.DataFrame:
//     students['grade'] = students['grade'].astype(int)
//     return students

Step 06

Interactive Study Demo

Use this to step through a reusable interview workflow for this problem.

Custom checkpoints (one per line)

Press Step or Run All to begin.

Step 07

Complexity Analysis

Time

O(n)

Space

O(1)

Approach Breakdown

BRUTE FORCE

O(n²) time

O(1) space

Two nested loops check every pair or subarray. The outer loop fixes a starting point, the inner loop extends or searches. For n elements this gives up to n²/2 operations. No extra space, but the quadratic time is prohibitive for large inputs.

OPTIMIZED

O(n) time

O(1) space

Most array problems have an O(n²) brute force (nested loops) and an O(n) optimal (single pass with clever state tracking). The key is identifying what information to maintain as you scan: a running max, a prefix sum, a hash map of seen values, or two pointers.

Shortcut: If you are using nested loops on an array, there is almost always an O(n) solution. Look for the right auxiliary state.

Coach Notes

Common Mistakes

Review these before coding to avoid predictable interview regressions.

Off-by-one on range boundaries

Wrong move: Loop endpoints miss first/last candidate.

Usually fails on: Fails on minimal arrays and exact-boundary answers.

Fix: Re-derive loops from inclusive/exclusive ranges before coding.