Needed a hint to get to the optimal approach, which already felt bad.
Demonstrate a structured problem-solving process: clarify the problem, discuss brute force and optimizations, analyze trade-offs, and outline an optimal solution with complexity analysis. Emphasize iterative refinement and communication under time constraints.
Pro tip: Verbalize your thought process and explicitly state assumptions; interviewers value clear reasoning and adaptability over a perfect solution. If stuck, simplify the problem and build up.
Ask clarifying questions to confirm inputs, outputs, constraints, and edge cases. Restate the problem in your own words to ensure alignment.
Start with a brute-force solution, then identify bottlenecks and brainstorm optimizations using appropriate data structures or algorithms.
Compare candidate solutions on time/space complexity, scalability, and code simplicity. Discuss why one is optimal for the given constraints.
Present the chosen algorithm step-by-step, including data structures and key operations. Analyze time and space complexity.
Walk through examples, including edge cases, to validate correctness. Be open to feedback and iterate if needed.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.