Search_Insert_Position.py

"""
Given a sorted array and a target value, return the index if the target is found. If not, return the index where it would be if it were inserted in order.

You may assume no duplicates in the array.

Here are few examples.
[1,3,5,6], 5 → 2
[1,3,5,6], 2 → 1
[1,3,5,6], 7 → 4
[1,3,5,6], 0 → 0
"""

class Solution:
    # @param A, a list of integers
    # @param target, an integer to be inserted
    # @return integer
    def searchInsert(self, A, target):
        start = 0
        end = len(A) - 1
        while start <= end:
            mid = (start + end) / 2
            if A[mid] == target:
                return mid
            elif A[mid] < target:       # need to search second half
                start = mid + 1
            else:
                end = mid - 1
        return start

    # Too easy way, not the way wanted
    def searchInsert_2(self, A, target):
        for i, num in enumerate(A):
            if target <= num:
                return i
        return len(A)