Dod anyone understand todays Q2 in contest

I dont know how to rate the description. Like i am new in giving contests. But like the description was real challenging task to crack. I attempted the first quite cnfidetn and then came 2nd question.

I dont know how to rate the description. Like i am new in giving contests. But like the description was real challenging task to crack. I attempted the first quite cnfidetn and then came 2nd question..20 minutes to understand that. Gave the 3rd qestion as i had solved similar dp question but that also gave TLE, i dont know how i used 3D dp..4th question was hard so i didnt try to even see that, i was alreeady frustrated by 2nd Question. 1/4 solved. I need to rethink my problem solving abilities. :(