BFS on grid

Last updated: December 20, 2025

Quick Overview

Apply the Dynamic Programming algorithm on a grid to solve this optimization problem.

Redfin
Coding & Algorithms
Software Engineer
Redfin
December 20, 2025
Software Engineer
Technical Screen
Coding & Algorithms
Easy

8

3

2,106 solved


Apply the Dynamic Programming algorithm on a grid to solve this optimization problem.

This coding problem is frequently asked during Technical Screen at Redfin. The interviewer is testing your ability to translate a problem into clean, working code while discussing time and space complexity. Redfin expects candidates to write production-quality code, not just solve the puzzle.

What the Interviewer Expects
  • Identify the correct data structure and algorithm for the problem
  • Write clean, bug-free code with proper variable naming
  • Analyze time and space complexity correctly
  • Handle basic edge cases (empty input, single element)
  • Communicate your thought process while coding
Key Topics to Cover
Dynamic programming and memoization
Common algorithm patterns (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS)
Graph algorithms and traversal
Sorting and searching
How to Approach This
  1. Clarify input constraints and edge cases before writing code.
  2. Walk through your approach verbally and confirm with the interviewer before coding.
  3. Start with a brute force solution, then optimize. Mention time and space complexity.
  4. Test your solution with examples, including edge cases like empty input or duplicates.
  5. Consider common patterns: sliding window, two pointers, hash map, BFS/DFS, dynamic programming.
Possible Follow-up Questions
  • What is the worst-case input for your solution?
  • How would you test this solution thoroughly?
  • How would you modify your solution to handle streaming input?
  • Can you optimize the space complexity of your solution?
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Practice DSA Problems
Sample Answer
Problem Analysis

In this problem, we are tasked with applying a dynamic programming approach on a grid, which suggests that we will likely be optimizing some solution based on previous computations. The grid structure...

Approach
  1. Initialize a DP Table: Create a DP table of the same dimensions as the grid, initialized to zero. This table will store the optimal solutions for subproblems.

  2. Base Case: Set the starti...


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