Question

Consider the 2×2 matrix {{-1,-2},{-3,-4}}. What is the sum of elements of the maximum sum rectangle?

(a) 0

(b) -1

(c) -7

(d) -12

I got this question during an interview.

My doubt is from Maximum Sum Rectangle in a 2D Matrix topic in chapter Dynamic Programming of Data Structures & Algorithms II

Answer 1

Correct option is (b) -1

The explanation is: Since all the elements of the 2×2 matrix are negative, the maximum sum rectangle is {-1}, a 1×1 matrix containing the largest element. The sum of elements of the maximum sum rectangle is -1.