Anthony Cicchetti , 3 mins , Edited, build up a group of "smallest required for x cost" in this case, your map would look like please hold Anthony Cicchetti , Now , Edited, cost | coins 1 | 1 2 | 1 + cost(1) 3 | 1 + cost(2) OR 3 (we pick 3) 4 | 1 + cost(3) OR 4 (we pick 4) 5 | 1 + cost(4) OR 3 + cost(2) OR 4 + cost(1) (we pick the last or the first) 6 | 1 + cost(5) OR 3 + cost(3) OR 4 + cost(2) (we pick 3 + cost(3), because that's fewer coins than the other options)