They were serious about the complexity breakdown, not just a quick mention at the end.
Start by clarifying the problem and constraints, then discuss a brute-force solution and optimize it using appropriate data structures and algorithms. Implement the optimized solution with clean code, test with edge cases, and clearly explain the time and space complexity of each step.
Pro tip: Always state the complexity of your initial brute-force approach before optimizing, and after implementing the optimized solution, explicitly compare the complexities to show the improvement. This demonstrates structured thinking and cost-benefit analysis.
Restate the problem in your own words, ask clarifying questions about input size, constraints, and edge cases, and confirm expected output format.
Propose a brute-force solution first, then discuss potential optimizations using data structures or algorithmic techniques, comparing their time and space complexities.
Write clean, modular code for the chosen approach, explaining your reasoning as you go and handling edge cases.
Walk through the code with a few test cases, including edge cases, to verify correctness and catch any bugs.
Clearly state the time and space complexity of your final solution, breaking down the cost of each part and justifying with Big-O notation.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.