Climbing Stairs
Count the distinct ways to climb n stairs when each move is one or two steps.
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Lesson notes
Try it before you watch
Restate the problem in your own words, list the edge cases, and sketch a solution with its running time. Then play the video and compare.
Reveal the key idea
ways(n) = ways(n − 1) + ways(n − 2), the Fibonacci recurrence. Keep only the last two values.
Pattern: Dynamic programming. Define a state, write the recurrence between states, and compute each state only once.
Complexity
| Measure | Bound |
|---|---|
| Time | O(n) |
| Extra space | O(1) |
Walkthroughs often start from a simpler approach first; aim to reach these bounds. New to Big-O? Read understanding algorithmic complexity.