Count minimum cost in array

Last updated: April 13, 2026

Quick Overview

Count the number of minimum cost in the given grid.

Adobe
Coding & Algorithms
Software Engineer
Adobe
April 13, 2026
Software Engineer
Phone Screen
Coding & Algorithms
Medium

244

14

2,813 solved


Count the number of minimum cost in the given grid.

Adobe 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
  • 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
Common algorithm patterns (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS)
Time and space complexity analysis
Graph algorithms and traversal
Hash maps and frequency counting
Binary search and divide and conquer
Dynamic programming and memoization
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 happens if the input contains duplicates?
  • Can you solve this in a single pass?
  • How would you parallelize this solution?
  • How would you modify your solution to handle streaming input?
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