> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mayanktyagi3111.gitbook.io/interview-prep/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mayanktyagi3111.gitbook.io/interview-prep/dynamic-programming/delete-operation-for-two-strings.md).

# Delete Operation for Two Strings

Given two words word1 and word2, find the minimum number of steps required to make word1 and word2 the same, where in each step you can delete one character in either string.

**Example 1:**<br>

```
Input: "sea", "eat"
Output: 2
Explanation: You need one step to make "sea" to "ea" and another step to make "eat" to "ea".
```

**Note:**<br>

1. The length of given words won't exceed 500.
2. Characters in given words can only be lower-case letters.

```java
class Solution {
    // Find LCS then ans= len1 + len2 - 2*LCS
    public int minDistance(String word1, String word2) {
        int dp[][] = new int[word1.length() + 1][word2.length() + 1];
        for (int i = 1; i <= word1.length(); i++)
            for (int j = 1; j <= word2.length(); j++)
                if (word1.charAt(i - 1) == word2.charAt(j - 1))
                    dp[i][j] = dp[i - 1][j - 1] + 1;
                else
                    dp[i][j] = Math.max(dp[i - 1][j], dp[i][j - 1]);
        return word1.length() + word2.length() - 2 * dp[word1.length()][word2.length()];
    }
}
```


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