Count minimum cost in interval list

Last updated: January 5, 2026

Quick Overview

Count the number of minimum cost in the given linked list.

Vercel
Coding & Algorithms
Software Engineer
Vercel
January 5, 2026
Software Engineer
Take-home Project
Coding & Algorithms
Medium

9

6

2,231 solved


Count the number of minimum cost in the given linked list.

Vercel uses this problem in the Take-home Project 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
Data structure selection and trade-offs
Common algorithm patterns (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS)
Dynamic programming and memoization
Time and space complexity analysis
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 if the input doesn't fit in memory?
  • Can you solve this iteratively instead of recursively (or vice versa)?
  • What happens if the input contains duplicates?
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