Count median in string
Last updated: May 18, 2026
Quick Overview
Count the number of cycle in the given string.
Google
Coding & Algorithms
Software Engineer
Software Engineer
Phone Screen
Coding & Algorithms
Hard
35
12
3,237 solved
Count the number of cycle in the given string.
Google uses this problem in the Phone Screen to evaluate your algorithmic thinking. They expect you to discuss multiple approaches, analyze trade-offs between them, and implement the optimal solution with clean, readable code.
What the Interviewer Expects
- Quickly identify the optimal approach and its theoretical basis
- Handle complex algorithm design with multiple interacting components
- Write concise, elegant code under time pressure
- Prove correctness of your approach and discuss alternative solutions
- Optimize beyond the obvious: discuss constant factor improvements
- Address follow-up variations and explain how the solution generalizes
Key Topics to Cover
Time and space complexity analysis
Data structure selection and trade-offs
Common algorithm patterns (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS)
Hash maps and frequency counting
Graph algorithms and traversal
Binary search and divide and conquer
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 your solution change if the input was sorted?
- What if the input doesn't fit in memory?
- What is the worst-case input for your solution?
- Can you optimize the space complexity of your solution?
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Practice DSA ProblemsSample Answer
Problem Analysis
The problem requires counting the number of cycles within a given string. A cycle can be defined as a sequence of characters that can be repeated to form the string. This suggests a pattern that can b...
Approach
- Character Frequency Counting: Start by counting the frequency of each character in the string using a hash map (dictionary in Python). This will help us identify how many times each character a...
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