Skip to main content
impol.dev

Count Operations to Obtain Zero

Easy

You receive two non-negative integers num1 and num2.

In one operation, if num1 >= num2, you must subtract num2 from num1, otherwise subtract num1 from num2.

  • For example, if num1 = 5 and num2 = 4, subtract num2 from num1, thus obtaining num1 = 1 and num2 = 4.

However, if num1 = 4 and num2 = 5, after one operation, num1 = 4 and num2 = 1.

Find and provide the count of operations required to make either num1 = 0 or num2 = 0.

Example 1

Input: num1 = 2, num2 = 3

Output: 3

Explanation:

  • Operation 1: num1 = 2, num2 = 3. Since num1 < num2, we subtract num1 from num2 and get num1 = 2, num2 = 3 - 2 = 1.

  • Operation 2: num1 = 2, num2 = 1. Since num1 > num2, we subtract num2 from num1.

  • Operation 3: num1 = 1, num2 = 1. Since num1 == num2, we subtract num2 from num1.

Now num1 = 0 and num2 = 1. Since num1 == 0, we do not need to perform any further operations.

So the total count of operations required is 3.

Example 2

Input: num1 = 10, num2 = 10

Output: 1

Explanation:

  • Operation 1: num1 = 10, num2 = 10. Since num1 == num2, we subtract num2 from num1 and get num1 = 10 - 10 = 0.

Now num1 = 0 and num2 = 10. Since num1 == 0, we are done.

So the total count of operations required is 1.

Constraints

  • 0 <= num1, num2 <= 10^5

Did this problem appear in one of your interviews?

Responses stay private.

Acceptance rate: 0%

© 2026 impol.dev. All rights reserved.PrivacyTerms