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Google·Software Engineer·Technical Phone Screen·Intermediate

IntermediatePrefer not to say
May 2026

Summary

Google coding screen, pretty stripped down. Just the one problem and not a lot of context around it.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

Given a sorted binary array, find the total count of 1s in it.

Algorithms & Data Structures
Author's notes

Sorted binary array means all the 0s come first, then all the 1s.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Since the array is sorted, all 0s come before all 1s. Use binary search to find the first occurrence of 1, then the count of 1s is the array length minus that index. If no 1 is found, return 0.

Pro tip: Mention that binary search gives O(log n) time, which is optimal for large arrays, and handle edge cases like all 0s or all 1s explicitly. Also, clarify that you assume the array is sorted in non-decreasing order.

1. Clarify assumptions and edge cases

Confirm the array is sorted in non-decreasing order and discuss edge cases: empty array, all 0s, all 1s.

2. Choose binary search approach

Explain that binary search can find the transition point from 0 to 1 in O(log n) time, which is more efficient than linear scan.

3. Implement binary search for first 1

Perform binary search to find the index of the first 1. If the middle element is 1, search left; else search right.

4. Compute count and handle no 1s

If a 1 is found at index i, the count is n - i. If no 1 is found, return 0.

5. Analyze complexity and test

State time complexity O(log n) and space O(1). Walk through examples to verify correctness.

Key Points to Mention

  • Binary search for the first occurrence of 1
  • Time complexity O(log n) vs O(n) linear scan
  • Edge cases: empty array, all 0s, all 1s
  • Use of standard binary search template with low/high pointers
  • Returning count as n - firstOneIndex
  • Space complexity O(1)

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.