private static int[] candy(int[] ratings) { int[] candy = new int[ratings.length]; Arrays.fill(candy, 1); // increasing for (int i = 1; i < ratings.length; i++) { if (ratings[i] > ratings[i - 1]) { candy[i] = candy[i - 1] + 1; } } // decreasing for (int j = ratings.length - 2; j >= 0; j--) { if (ratings[j] > ratings[j + 1]) { if (((j - 1 >= 0)) && (ratings[j - 1] < ratings[j])) { candy[j] = Math.max(candy[j], candy[j - 1] + 1); } else { candy[j] = candy[j + 1] + 1; } } } // int sum = 0; // for(int k=0; k<candy.length; k++) sum+=candy[k]; return candy; }