LeetCode Pattern: 19 Tips & Strategies for Solving Union Find (Disjoint Set Union) Problems (Including 10 Classic Problems & Solutions)

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Union-Find, also known as Disjoint Set Union (DSU), is a data structure and algorithm used to efficiently manage disjoint sets and perform operations such as union and find.

I. TIPS & STRATEGIES FOR SOLVING UNION FIND (DISJOINT SET UNION) PROBLEMS:

1. Understand the Problem:

• Clearly understand the problem statement and how Union-Find operations can be applied to solve it.

1.1 Indicators of Union Find:

i. Connected Components or Sets:

• Problems that involve identifying or manipulating connected components or sets often require Union Find.
• Look for phrases like “connected components,” “sets,” or “disjoint sets.”

ii. Detecting Cycles in Graphs:

• Union Find is commonly used to detect cycles in an undirected graph.
• If the problem involves checking for cycles or connectivity in a graph, Union Find might be applicable.

iii. Equivalence Relations:

• If the problem…