# Time:  O(sqrt(n))
# Space: O(1)

# You are standing at position 0 on an infinite number line. There is a goal at position target.
#
# On each move, you can either go left or right.
# During the n-th move (starting from 1), you take n steps.
#
# Return the minimum number of steps required to reach the destination.
#
# Example 1:
# Input: target = 3
# Output: 2
# Explanation:
# On the first move we step from 0 to 1.
# On the second step we step from 1 to 3.
#
# Example 2:
# Input: target = 2
# Output: 3
# Explanation:
# On the first move we step from 0 to 1.
# On the second move we step  from 1 to -1.
# On the third move we step from -1 to 2.
#
# Note:
# - target will be a non-zero integer in the range [-10^9, 10^9].

class Solution(object):
    def reachNumber(self, target):
        """
        :type target: int
        :rtype: int
        """
        target = abs(target)
        k = 0
        while target > 0:
            k += 1
            target -= k
        return k if target%2 == 0 else k+1+k%2
        

Create reach-a-number.py