[M💙 Challenge] Staircase Number

Question

Monday Blue 💙 Challenge Series #11

Let's identify the pattern this week! This time we will need to determine whether the user provided number is a upward/downward staircase number or not.

💼 TASK
Write a program to accept an integer and output whether it's an upward/downward staircase number and print "Not staircase number" if it's not the case. A staircase number have the following pattern:-

✔️ Compose of at least 2 distinct digits (0-9)
✔️ Same digit must be grouped together and occur at least twice

Explanation: We need different digit to build the staircase step and if we plot the number as the y-value, we get a flat line with two or more occurences. So by connecting the lines we will get a staircase-like graph.

✔️ Upward if the unique digits are incerasing left-to-right
✔️ Downward if the unique digits are decreasing left-to-right

Explanation: I believe this one is pretty self-descriptive. 😉

🔧 TEST CASE
11122333 "Upward staircase number"
11337788 "Upward staircase number"
33221100 "Downward staircase number"
9911 "Downward staircase number"
8080 "Not staircase number"
1234567 "Not staircase number"

❤ BONUS
Clear-cut and optimized approach is encouraged.

👍 SPECIAL MENTION (RegEx submissions)
https://code.sololearn.com/W23lPuTDqEP7/?ref=app
https://code.sololearn.com/cvL9enWmJdFg/?ref=app
https://code.sololearn.com/cRET7qJNZvt9/?ref=app
https://code.sololearn.com/cf6oJ7dGwStu/?ref=app
https://code.sololearn.com/cXqeHbpo6OMW/?ref=app
https://code.sololearn.com/cJTYfsYAEQSE/?ref=app

Happy Coding!!! 😁💻

Answer 1

here you are https://code.sololearn.com/c6xw62FUid5o/?ref=app

Answer 2

https://code.sololearn.com/c16jy7ptDo53/?ref=app

Answer 3

Here's :
https://code.sololearn.com/crb6ju752p11/?ref=app

Answer 4

Thanks everyone for your participation! Apologize for the late review this time as I'm really busy recently.

I've noticed some interesting application of RegEx and I'm planning to promote RegEx submissions at the SPECIAL MENTION section above. In addition, I would appreciate if you can place a comment to explain how your RegEx works as well.

There's no doubt Python produce elegant solutions as always but personally I find Yash Thatte's solution easiest to follow. 😉

I hope you all enjoy and let's move on to the next challenge! ❤

https://www.sololearn.com/Discuss/902040/?ref=app

Answer 5

Yup in this case we only accept strictly upward/downward pattern. Thanks everyone for your interest and help for the clarification! 😄

Answer 6

@blackcat1111 Thank you! 😄 No worry please take your time as I'll select the best answer every Monday so that means you got a whole week for it, enjoy~

Answer 7

@Kinshuk Yes! 6677 is an upward staircase number.

Answer 8

I edited code and it works now! Didn't see some rules 😂😂

Answer 9

@Pegasus Well done! 👍 Suddenly I start to miss the speedy submission by Sir Krishna. 😂

Answer 10

@swim I couldn't agree more but I believe those who's already fluent in Python will appreciate its beauty and straight-forward compared to C# or Java. 😄

Answer 11

Apologize, I mean staircase instead of ladder, silly me!!! 😂

Answer 12

Here! It's done. I haven't checked it extensively, though...
https://code.sololearn.com/cmE2aV6ohwOb/?ref=app

Answer 13

https://code.sololearn.com/cZHqRVLoT4WX/?ref=app

Answer 14

My try...made provision for "defective" staircase numbers
https://code.sololearn.com/cP6V5vYt5E58/?ref=app

Answer 15

@Kinshuk Vasisht You need at least 2 distinct digits to be a staircase number. Think of graphs. 😉

Answer 16

@Yash Thatte
Or you need atleast 2 steps to make a staircase, right?

Answer 17

What would be the output for 113322? It satisfies the conditions for a ladder number, but it is neither upward nor downward.

Answer 18

My try : Already optimized for defective numbers.
https://code.sololearn.com/cChavbUCeGuI/?ref=app

Answer 19

heres my
"" FUNCTIONAL ONE - LINER ""//very optimized

## default EVERY POSSIBLE INPUT included

https://code.sololearn.com/cLbwE0pB4hx0/?ref=app

Answer 20

Is 6677 a staircase number?