Maximum sum subarray having sum less than or equal to given sum
Last Updated :
05 Mar, 2025
You are given an array of non-negative integers and a target sum. Your task is to find a contiguous subarray whose sum is the maximum possible, while ensuring that it does not exceed the given target sum.
Note: The given array contains only non-negative integers.
Examples:
Input: arr[] = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5], sum = 11
Output: 10
Explanation: Subarray having maximum sum is [1, 2, 3, 4]
Input: arr[] = [2, 4, 6, 8, 10], sum = 7
Output: 6
Explanation: Subarray having maximum sum is [2, 4]or [6]
[Naive Approach] - Generate all Subarrays - O(n^2) Time and O(1) Space
We can solve this problem by generating all substrings, comparing their sums with the given sum, and updating the answer accordingly.
C++
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
int findMaxSubarraySum(vector<int> &arr, int sum)
{
int result = 0;
int n = arr.size();
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
int currSum = 0;
for (int j = i; j < n; j++) {
currSum += arr[j];
if (currSum < sum) {
result = max(result, currSum);
}
}
}
return result;
}
// Driver program to test above function
int main()
{
vector<int> arr= { 6, 8, 9 };
int sum = 20;
cout << findMaxSubarraySum(arr, sum);
return 0;
}
Java
import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
public class GfG {
static int findMaxSubarraySum(int[] arr, int sum)
{
int result = 0;
int n = arr.length;
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
int currSum = 0;
for (int j = i; j < n; j++) {
currSum += arr[j];
if (currSum < sum) {
result = Math.max(result, currSum);
}
}
}
return result;
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
int[] arr = { 6, 8, 9 };
int sum = 20;
System.out.println(findMaxSubarraySum(arr, sum));
}
}
Python
def findMaxSubarraySum(arr, sum):
result = 0
n = len(arr)
for i in range(n):
currSum = 0
for j in range(i, n):
currSum += arr[j]
if currSum < sum:
result = max(result, currSum)
return result
if __name__ == '__main__':
arr = [6, 8, 9]
sum = 20
print(findMaxSubarraySum(arr, sum))
C#
using System;
class GfG {
static int findMaxSubarraySum(int[] arr, int sum)
{
int result = 0;
int n = arr.Length;
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
int currSum = 0;
for (int j = i; j < n; j++) {
currSum += arr[j];
if (currSum < sum) {
result = Math.Max(result, currSum);
}
}
}
return result;
}
public static void Main()
{
int[] arr = { 6, 8, 9 };
int sum = 20;
Console.WriteLine(findMaxSubarraySum(arr, sum));
}
}
JavaScript
function findMaxSubarraySum(arr, sum)
{
let result = 0;
let n = arr.length;
for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
let currSum = 0;
for (let j = i; j < n; j++) {
currSum += arr[j];
if (currSum < sum) {
result = Math.max(result, currSum);
}
}
}
return result;
}
const arr = [ 6, 8, 9 ];
const sum = 20;
console.log(findMaxSubarraySum(arr, sum));
[Expected Approach] - Using Sliding Window - O(n) Time and O(n) Space
The maximum sum subarray can be found using a sliding window approach. Start by adding elements to curr_sum
while it's less than the target sum. If curr_sum
exceeds the sum, remove elements from the start until it fits within the limit. (Note: This method works only for non-negative elements.)
C++
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
int findMaxSubarraySum(vector<int> &arr, int sum)
{
int n = arr.size();
int curr_sum = arr[0], max_sum = 0, start = 0;
for (int i = 1; i < n; i++) {
if (curr_sum <= sum)
max_sum = max(max_sum, curr_sum);
while (start < i && curr_sum + arr[i] > sum) {
curr_sum -= arr[start];
start++;
}
if (curr_sum < 0)
{
curr_sum = 0;
}
curr_sum += arr[i];
}
if (curr_sum <= sum)
max_sum = max(max_sum, curr_sum);
return max_sum;
}
int main()
{
vector<int> arr = {6, 8, 9};
int sum = 20;
cout << findMaxSubarraySum(arr, sum);
return 0;
}
Java
class GfG{
static int findMaxSubarraySum(int arr[], int sum)
{
int n = arr.length;
int curr_sum = arr[0], max_sum = 0, start = 0;
// To find max_sum less than sum
for (int i = 1; i < n; i++) {
if (curr_sum <= sum)
max_sum = Math.max(max_sum, curr_sum);
while (curr_sum + arr[i] > sum && start < i) {
curr_sum -= arr[start];
start++;
}
// Add elements to curr_sum
curr_sum += arr[i];
}
if (curr_sum <= sum)
max_sum = Math.max(max_sum, curr_sum);
return max_sum;
}
// Driver program to test above function
public static void main(String[] args)
{
int arr[] = {6, 8, 9};
int sum = 20;
System.out.println(findMaxSubarraySum(arr, sum));
}
}
Python
def findMaxSubarraySum(arr, n, sum):
curr_sum = arr[0]
max_sum = 0
start = 0;
for i in range(1, n):
if (curr_sum <= sum):
max_sum = max(max_sum, curr_sum)
while (curr_sum + arr[i] > sum and start < i):
curr_sum -= arr[start]
start += 1
curr_sum += arr[i]
if (curr_sum <= sum):
max_sum = max(max_sum, curr_sum)
return max_sum
if __name__ == '__main__':
arr = [6, 8, 9]
n = len(arr)
sum = 20
print(findMaxSubarraySum(arr, n, sum))
C#
using System;
class GfG {
static int findMaxSubarraySum(int[] arr, int sum)
{
int n = arr.Length;
int curr_sum = arr[0], max_sum = 0, start = 0;
for (int i = 1; i < n; i++) {
if (curr_sum <= sum)
max_sum = Math.Max(max_sum, curr_sum);
while (curr_sum + arr[i] > sum && start < i) {
curr_sum -= arr[start];
start++;
}
curr_sum += arr[i];
}
if (curr_sum <= sum)
max_sum = Math.Max(max_sum, curr_sum);
return max_sum;
}
// Driver Code
public static void Main()
{
int[] arr = { 6, 8, 9 };
int sum = 20;
Console.Write(findMaxSubarraySum(arr, sum));
}
}
JavaScript
function findMaxSubarraySum(arr, sum)
{
let n = arr.length;
let curr_sum = arr[0], max_sum = 0,
start = 0;
for(let i = 1; i < n; i++)
{
if (curr_sum <= sum)
max_sum = Math.max(max_sum, curr_sum);
while (curr_sum + arr[i] > sum && start < i)
{
curr_sum -= arr[start];
start++;
}
// Add elements to curr_sum
curr_sum += arr[i];
}
// Adding an extra check for last subarray
if (curr_sum <= sum)
max_sum = Math.max(max_sum, curr_sum);
return max_sum;
}
// Driver code
let arr = [ 6, 8, 9 ];
let sum = 20;
console.log(findMaxSubarraySum(arr, sum));
Note: For an array containing positive, negative, and zero elements, we can use the prefix sum along with sets to efficiently find the solution. The worst-case time complexity for this approach is O(n log n).
For a detailed explanation, refer to the article Maximum Subarray Sum Less Than or Equal to K Using Set.
Similar Reads
DSA Tutorial - Learn Data Structures and Algorithms DSA (Data Structures and Algorithms) is the study of organizing data efficiently using data structures like arrays, stacks, and trees, paired with step-by-step procedures (or algorithms) to solve problems effectively. Data structures manage how data is stored and accessed, while algorithms focus on
7 min read
Quick Sort QuickSort is a sorting algorithm based on the Divide and Conquer that picks an element as a pivot and partitions the given array around the picked pivot by placing the pivot in its correct position in the sorted array. It works on the principle of divide and conquer, breaking down the problem into s
12 min read
Merge Sort - Data Structure and Algorithms Tutorials Merge sort is a popular sorting algorithm known for its efficiency and stability. It follows the divide-and-conquer approach. It works by recursively dividing the input array into two halves, recursively sorting the two halves and finally merging them back together to obtain the sorted array. Merge
14 min read
Bubble Sort Algorithm Bubble Sort is the simplest sorting algorithm that works by repeatedly swapping the adjacent elements if they are in the wrong order. This algorithm is not suitable for large data sets as its average and worst-case time complexity are quite high.We sort the array using multiple passes. After the fir
8 min read
Data Structures Tutorial Data structures are the fundamental building blocks of computer programming. They define how data is organized, stored, and manipulated within a program. Understanding data structures is very important for developing efficient and effective algorithms. What is Data Structure?A data structure is a st
2 min read
Breadth First Search or BFS for a Graph Given a undirected graph represented by an adjacency list adj, where each adj[i] represents the list of vertices connected to vertex i. Perform a Breadth First Search (BFS) traversal starting from vertex 0, visiting vertices from left to right according to the adjacency list, and return a list conta
15+ min read
Binary Search Algorithm - Iterative and Recursive Implementation Binary Search Algorithm is a searching algorithm used in a sorted array by repeatedly dividing the search interval in half. The idea of binary search is to use the information that the array is sorted and reduce the time complexity to O(log N). Binary Search AlgorithmConditions to apply Binary Searc
15 min read
Insertion Sort Algorithm Insertion sort is a simple sorting algorithm that works by iteratively inserting each element of an unsorted list into its correct position in a sorted portion of the list. It is like sorting playing cards in your hands. You split the cards into two groups: the sorted cards and the unsorted cards. T
9 min read
Dijkstra's Algorithm to find Shortest Paths from a Source to all Given a weighted undirected graph represented as an edge list and a source vertex src, find the shortest path distances from the source vertex to all other vertices in the graph. The graph contains V vertices, numbered from 0 to V - 1.Note: The given graph does not contain any negative edge. Example
12 min read
Selection Sort Selection Sort is a comparison-based sorting algorithm. It sorts an array by repeatedly selecting the smallest (or largest) element from the unsorted portion and swapping it with the first unsorted element. This process continues until the entire array is sorted.First we find the smallest element an
8 min read