Float number and operators - mock interview - main bug is the max/ min value - Feb. 1, 2018 10:00 PM mock interview

Float number and operators mock interview

Given a list of float numbers, and four operators +, -, *, / with
flat preference, find the maximum value by inserting operator 
between each consecutive pair of numbers.

For example, given the array [1, 12, -3], the maximum number 33 can 
be found using 1 - 12 * (-3), since all operators have flat preference, 
so 1 - 12 * (-3) will be handled from left to right, first operation is 
1 - 12 with value -11, and then second operation is -11 * (-3) = 33.
  
  
class Solution {
  
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    
  }
  
  public int findMax(float[] nums) {
    
    if (nums.length == 0)
      return 0;
    
    return calc(nums[0], nums, 1);
  }
  
  private float calc(float inter, float[] nums, int idx) {
    
    if (idx == nums.length)
      return inter;
    
    return Math.max(calc(inter + nums[idx], nums, idx+1)
                   calc(inter - nums[idx], nums, idx+1),
                   calc(inter * nums[idx], nums, idx+1),
                   calc(inter / nums[idx], nums, idx+1));    
  }  
}