USER: https://codeforces.com/contest/1375/problem/C BOT: Thanks! Now could you provide a link to the editorial. USER: https://codeforces.com/blog/entry/79731 BOT: Would you like hints to help you solve the problem or an interactive explanation of the editorial (hint/editorial)? USER: editorial BOT: The answer is iff $$$a_1 < a_n$$$. Let's find out why. When $$$a_1 < a_n$$$, we can repeatedly use this algorithm while the permutation contains more than one element: Find the smallest index $$$r$$$ such that $$$a_1 < a_r$$$. Choose $$$a_r$$$ and the element comes right before $$$a_r$$$ and delete the element before $$$a_r$$$. Repeat step 2 until $$$a_r$$$ is adjacent to $$$a_1$$$. Choose $$$a_1$$$ and $$$a_r$$$, and delete $$$a_r$$$. When $$$a_1 > a_n$$$, we have some observations: The leftmost element is non-decreasing. That is because if we want to remove the old leftmost element $$$a_1$$$, we need to pair it with $$$a_2 > a_1$$$, and that will result in the leftmost element increasing. Likewise, we can use the same argument to show that the rightmost element is non-increasing. Problem C author — Kuroni **Problem D** Let me know if you have any questions.