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Problem solution · C++

Basic Calculator

Basic Calculator: a C++ solution using stack-based processing. Learn the idea, check the complexity, and read the full code, with credit to walkccc LeetCode Solutions.

Technique
Stack-based processing
Source
walkccc LeetCode Solutions
Length
25 lines
Start with the idea.

Try the problem first. If you get stuck, read the approach below, then write your own solution. The full code is at the bottom.

Approach

Stack-based processing

For Basic Calculator, the implementation keeps unresolved items in last-in, first-out order, often to match boundaries, parse structure, or maintain monotonic candidates.

  1. Define what every stack entry represents.
  2. Pop entries once the current item resolves or invalidates them.
  3. Push the current item with only the information later steps need.

Code notes

  • 25 lines of C++ from the credited upstream file 224.cpp.
  • The implementation keeps its working state in language-native values and containers.
  • 1 loop block detected.

Complexity

If each item is pushed and popped at most once, the stack work is linear.

Check the problem constraints before deciding whether this complexity will pass.

Source

Code and credit

This code comes from walkccc LeetCode Solutions by P.-Y. Chen (walkccc) and is used under the MIT licence.

Open problem ↗Original source ↗
Full codeBasic Calculator · C++C++
Use this to learn the idea, then write your own version.
class Solution { public:  int calculate(string s) {    int ans = 0;    int num = 0;    int sign = 1;    stack<int> stack{{sign}};  // stack.top() := the current environment's sign     for (const char c : s)      if (isdigit(c))        num = num * 10 + (c - '0');      else if (c == '(')        stack.push(sign);      else if (c == ')')        stack.pop();      else if (c == '+' || c == '-') {        ans += sign * num;        sign = (c == '+' ? 1 : -1) * stack.top();        num = 0;      }     return ans + sign * num;  }};

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