Clarify the problem constraints and edge cases, then propose a recursive DFS solution that traverses the tree while matching the array elements. Discuss time and space complexity, and consider iterative alternatives.
Pro tip: Demonstrate thoroughness by handling edge cases like empty tree, empty array, and arrays longer than the path, and mention that the array must end at a leaf node.
Ask questions to confirm: Does the array represent the exact sequence from root to leaf? Can the array be empty? What if the tree is empty? Should we consider only root-to-leaf paths, not partial paths?
Propose a recursive DFS that traverses the tree while comparing node values with array elements. At each step, check if the current node matches the array element at the current index.
Write a recursive function that takes a node and an index. If the node is null or index is out of bounds, return false. If the node value doesn't match array[index], return false. If it's a leaf and index is the last element, return true. Otherwise, recurse on left and right children with index+1.
State that time complexity is O(n) in the worst case (visiting each node once) and space complexity is O(h) for recursion stack, where h is tree height.
Mention handling of empty tree, empty array, array longer than path, and array ending before leaf. Optionally, discuss an iterative BFS/DFS approach using a stack.
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