combinations.py

# Time:  O(k * C(n, k))
# Space: O(k)

class Solution(object):
    def combine(self, n, k):
        """
        :type n: int
        :type k: int
        :rtype: List[List[int]]
        """
        result, combination = [], []
        i = 1
        while True:
            if len(combination) == k:
                result.append(combination[:])
            if len(combination) == k or \
               len(combination)+(n-i+1) < k:
                if not combination:
                    break
                i = combination.pop()+1
            else:
                combination.append(i)
                i += 1
        return result


class Solution2(object):
    def combine(self, n, k):
        """
        :type n: int
        :type k: int
        :rtype: List[List[int]]
        """
        def combineDFS(n, start, intermediate, k, result):
            if k == 0:
                result.append(intermediate[:])
                return
            for i in xrange(start, n):
                intermediate.append(i+1)
                combineDFS(n, i+1, intermediate, k-1, result)
                intermediate.pop()

        result = []
        combineDFS(n, 0, [], k, result)
        return result