#968

Binary Tree Cameras

hard · verified · 47.7% accepted · 5,643 likes · top 33%

dynamic programming · tree · depth-first search · binary tree

⊣ practice⊣ open on leetcode ↗

Description

You are given the root of a binary tree. We install cameras on the tree nodes where each camera at a node can monitor its parent, itself, and its immediate children.

Return the minimum number of cameras needed to monitor all nodes of the tree.

Example 1:

Input: root = [0,0,null,0,0]
Output: 1
Explanation: One camera is enough to monitor all nodes if placed as shown.

Example 2:

Input: root = [0,0,null,0,null,0,null,null,0]
Output: 2
Explanation: At least two cameras are needed to monitor all nodes of the tree. The above image shows one of the valid configurations of camera placement.

Solution