Technical Questions in Problem Solving

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

What should you consider when designing an algorithm?

Only the space complexity

Space and time complexity (correct)

Trade-offs in design

Only the time complexity

Which aspect should you evaluate if your algorithm encounters a lot of data?

Optimal trade-offs

Algorithm assumptions

Space complexity

Time complexity (correct)

What is a common consideration when creating a modified binary search tree?

Decreasing time for insertions

Minimal impact on find operations

No impact on deletion efficiency

Balancing time for insert, find, and delete (correct)

If an algorithm design impacts the time for insert, find, or delete operations, what should you assess?

Space and time complexity together Signup and view all the answers

When facing limitations in algorithm design, what is crucial to evaluate?

Trade-offs made during design Signup and view all the answers

Why should you ask about trade-offs in algorithm design?

To balance various design aspects Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended starting point when writing code on a whiteboard?

In the upper left hand corner Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of testing recommended for code?

Testing only at the end Signup and view all the answers

What is the risk of being seen as a 'random fixer' candidate when fixing code issues?

Creating several new issues Signup and view all the answers

When finding mistakes in code, what is recommended before fixing the mistake?

Thinking deeply about why the code failed Signup and view all the answers

What should be tested when considering user errors in code?

Null or negative values passed by users Signup and view all the answers

Why is testing while writing code recommended for complicated or highly numerical algorithms?

It can catch mistakes early on Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended approach when an interviewer gives you specific data during a coding interview?

Leverage that information to optimize your solution Signup and view all the answers

What is the initial solution you should mention when solving a coding problem during an interview?

Brute force solution Signup and view all the answers

How can writing pseudocode before actual code benefit you during a coding interview?

Helps outline thoughts clearly and reduces mistakes Signup and view all the answers

What advice does the text give regarding the pace of writing code during a coding interview?

Take it slow and methodical Signup and view all the answers

When solving a problem involving finding the minimum age for a group of people, what should you consider doing?

Define a data structure to represent a Person Signup and view all the answers

What does using data structures generously indicate during a coding interview?

Caring about good object-oriented design Signup and view all the answers