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Solution: Binary Tree Maximum Path Sum

Explore how to find the maximum path sum in a binary tree by using a recursive depth-first search method. Understand the MaxContrib function to decide path continuation or new path initiation, and learn to balance time and space complexity for efficient coding interview solutions.

Statement

Given the root of a binary tree, return the maximum sum of any non-empty path.

A path in a binary tree is defined as follows:

  • A sequence of nodes in which each pair of adjacent nodes must have an edge connecting them.
    • A node can only be included in a path once at most.
    • Including the root in the path is not compulsory.

You can calculate the path sum by adding up all node values in the path. To solve this problem, calculate the maximum path sum given the root of a binary tree so that there won’t be any greater path than it in the tree.

Constraints:

  • 11\leq Number of nodes in the tree 500\leq500 ...