Count maximum path in array
Last updated: August 4, 2025
Quick Overview
Given an array of integers, count the maximum number of distinct paths that can be formed by moving from the first element to the last element, where you can only move to adjacent elements. The output should be a single integer representing the count of such maximum paths.
NVIDIA
August 4, 202534
8
80 solved
Given an array of integers, count the maximum number of distinct paths that can be formed by moving from the first element to the last element, where you can only move to adjacent elements. The output should be a single integer representing the count of such maximum paths.
Coding interviews at NVIDIA focus on problem-solving approach as much as the final solution. The interviewer wants to see you break down the problem, consider edge cases, and optimize iteratively. Communication throughout the process is key.
What the Interviewer Expects
- Recognize the underlying problem pattern (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS, etc.)
- Discuss multiple approaches and trade-offs before coding
- Implement an optimal solution with clean, production-quality code
- Handle all edge cases including boundary conditions and invalid input
- Optimize both time and space complexity with clear justification
- Test your solution systematically with well-chosen examples
Key Topics to Cover
How to Approach This
- Clarify input constraints and edge cases before writing code.
- Walk through your approach verbally and confirm with the interviewer before coding.
- Start with a brute force solution, then optimize. Mention time and space complexity.
- Test your solution with examples, including edge cases like empty input or duplicates.
- Consider common patterns: sliding window, two pointers, hash map, BFS/DFS, dynamic programming.
Possible Follow-up Questions
- How would you parallelize this solution?
- What is the worst-case input for your solution?
- Can you solve this iteratively instead of recursively (or vice versa)?
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Practice DSA ProblemsSample Answer
Problem Analysis
This problem can be analyzed as a graph traversal problem, where each element in the array represents a node and edges exist between adjacent elements. The goal is to count the distinct paths from the...
Approach
We will implement a recursive DFS function that explores all possible paths starting from the first element. The steps are as follows:
- Create a recursive function
count_paths(index, memo)that ta...
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