> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://anton-veselskyi.gitbook.io/codding-problems-solutions/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://anton-veselskyi.gitbook.io/codding-problems-solutions/leetcode/medium/combination-sum-iii.md).

# Combination Sum III

## [Combination Sum III](https://leetcode.com/problems/combination-sum-iii)

Find all valid combinations of `k` numbers that sum up to `n` such that the following conditions are true:

* Only numbers `1` through `9` are used.
* Each number is used **at most once**.

Return *a list of all possible valid combinations*. The list must not contain the same combination twice, and the combinations may be returned in any order.

**Example 1:**

```

Input: k = 3, n = 7
Output: [[1,2,4]]
Explanation:
1 + 2 + 4 = 7
There are no other valid combinations.
```

**Example 2:**

```

Input: k = 3, n = 9
Output: [[1,2,6],[1,3,5],[2,3,4]]
Explanation:
1 + 2 + 6 = 9
1 + 3 + 5 = 9
2 + 3 + 4 = 9
There are no other valid combinations.
```

**Example 3:**

```

Input: k = 4, n = 1
Output: []
Explanation: There are no valid combinations. [1,2,1] is not valid because 1 is used twice.
```

**Example 4:**

```

Input: k = 3, n = 2
Output: []
Explanation: There are no valid combinations.
```

**Example 5:**

```

Input: k = 9, n = 45
Output: [[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]]
Explanation:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 = 45
​​​​​​​There are no other valid combinations.
```

**Constraints:**

* `2 <= k <= 9`
* `1 <= n <= 60`

## Solutions

### 🧠 Cpp

```cpp
class Solution
{

    //size_t pick_next_free_position(char &bitmask, current)
public:
    vector<vector<int>> combinationSum3(int k, int n)
    {
        //input validation
        if(k > n)
            return {};

        vector<vector<int>> res;
        set<vector<int>> res_set;
        vector<int> holder(k, 1);
        //to mark current selected numbers

        size_t iter_max = std::min(9, (n > 3 ? n-k+1 : n));

        function<void(size_t, vector<int>)> increment_holder;
        //add vector of num to ignore to ignore
        increment_holder = [&](size_t pos, vector<int> to_ignore)
        {
            for(int i = 0; i <= iter_max; )
            {
                if(i == iter_max)
                {
                    holder[pos] = 1;
                    break;
                }

                if(pos==k-1)
                {
                    const int sum = std::accumulate(holder.begin(), holder.end(),0);
                    if(sum == n)
                    {
                        auto holder_copy = holder;
                        std::sort(holder_copy.begin(), holder_copy.end());
                        auto uq_end = std::unique(begin(holder_copy), end(holder_copy));
                        if(uq_end == end(holder_copy))
                            res_set.insert(std::move(holder_copy));
                    }
                    if(sum > n)
                    {
                        holder[pos] = 1;
                        break;
                    }
                }
                else
                {
                    to_ignore.push_back(holder[pos]);
                    increment_holder(pos+1, to_ignore);
                }
                do
                {
                    ++i, ++holder[pos];
                } while(std::count(begin(to_ignore), end(to_ignore),holder[pos]));

                if(i == iter_max)
                {
                    holder[pos] = 1;
                    break;
                }


            }
        };

        increment_holder(0, {});

        std::copy(res_set.begin(), res_set.end(), back_inserter(res));

        return res;
    }
};
```


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://anton-veselskyi.gitbook.io/codding-problems-solutions/leetcode/medium/combination-sum-iii.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
