Buy Low, Sell High

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <math.h>
#include <vector>
 
using namespace std;
 
int main() {
    int n;
    cin >> n;
    int *a = new int[n];
    
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
        cin >> a[i];
 
    int *b_pref = new int[n];
    int *b_suf = new int[n];
    b_pref[0] = 0; // first day buy and sell
    b_suf[n - 1] = 0; // last day buy and sell
    
    for (int i = 1; i < n; i++) { // points at end of period
        int end = a[i];
        int best_so_far = b_pref[i - 1];
        // go back and check is there a small value
        // such that is gives better res than b_pref
        for (int j = i - 1; j >= 0; j--) {
            if (end - a[j] > best_so_far) {
                best_so_far = end - a[j];
            }
        }
        b_pref[i] = best_so_far;
    }
    
    /* cout << endl;
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
        cout << b_pref[i] << " ";
    */
    for (int i = n - 2; i >= 0; i--) { // points at the start of period
        int start = a[i];
        int best_so_far = b_suf[i + 1];
        for (int j = i + 1; j < n; j++) {
            if (a[j] - start > best_so_far) {
                best_so_far = a[j] - start;
            }
        }
        b_suf[i] = best_so_far;
    }
 
    /* cout << endl;
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
        cout << b_suf[i] << " ";
    */
    int best = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        if (b_pref[i] + b_suf[i] > best)
            best = b_pref[i] + b_suf[i];
    }
    cout << best << endl;
    
    delete[] a;
    delete[] b_pref;
    delete[] b_suf;
}

Test 1

Verdict: TIME LIMIT EXCEEDED

Test 2

Verdict: TIME LIMIT EXCEEDED

Test 3

Verdict: TIME LIMIT EXCEEDED

Test 4

Verdict: TIME LIMIT EXCEEDED

Test 5

Verdict: TIME LIMIT EXCEEDED

Test 6

Verdict: ACCEPTED

Test 7

Verdict: ACCEPTED

Test 8

Verdict: ACCEPTED

Test 9

Verdict: TIME LIMIT EXCEEDED