Related Coding / DSA
Maximum Sum Contiguous Subarray
Given a non-empty list of integers, find the maximum sum of any contiguous non-empty subarray.
1. Problem Statement
You are given a dictionary of words. Build a structure supporting countWithPrefix(prefix), which returns how many dictionary words start with the given prefix. Multiple prefix queries will be made against the same dictionary.
2. Live Coding Format
Work in the provided coding workspace while explaining your decisions to the live interviewer. Validation may use inline tests, examples, comments, or a verbal walkthrough.
3. Key Focus Areas
- 1Problem clarification and contract
- 2Approach exploration and optimality
- 3Think-aloud communication and pacing
- 4Implementation correctness
- 5Code quality and language fluency
- 6Tests and dry run
- 7Debugging and self-correction
- 8Complexity analysis
- 9Follow-up performance
4. What Strong Candidates Should Demonstrate
- Clarify character set, duplicate words, and empty-prefix behavior before coding.
- Explain a per-query full-scan baseline and improve it so a query no longer scans the whole dictionary.
- Think aloud while implementing readable, correct code.
- Validate with explicit expected outputs and a top-to-bottom dry run.
- Analyze time and space complexity and handle a bounded follow-up modification.
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Partition a Set into Two Equal-Sum Groups
Given a set of positive integers, determine whether it can be partitioned into two groups with equal sums.
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Group Words by Letter Composition
Given a list of lowercase words, group together the words that share the exact same multiset of letters.
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Given a 2D grid of land and water cells, count the number of distinct connected land regions, where cells are connected horizontally or vertically.