Count shortest distance in interval list
Last updated: April 9, 2026
Quick Overview
Given a list of intervals represented by pairs of integers, where each pair indicates the start and end of an interval, write a function to calculate the shortest distance between any two non-overlapping intervals. The function should take a list of intervals as input and return the minimum distance as an integer. If all intervals overlap, return 0.
Lyft
April 9, 202627
7
2,056 solved
Given a list of intervals represented by pairs of integers, where each pair indicates the start and end of an interval, write a function to calculate the shortest distance between any two non-overlapping intervals. The function should take a list of intervals as input and return the minimum distance as an integer. If all intervals overlap, return 0.
Coding interviews at Lyft 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
- Can you solve this iteratively instead of recursively (or vice versa)?
- Can you optimize the space complexity of your solution?
- What is the worst-case input for your solution?
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Problem Analysis
To solve the problem of counting the shortest distance between non-overlapping intervals, we can use a sorting and two-pointer technique. The reason this approach fits is that it allows us to efficien...
Approach
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Sort the Intervals: Start by sorting the list of intervals based on their start times.
Example: Given intervals
[(1, 3), (5, 8), (4, 5), (10, 12)], after sorting, we get `[(1, 3), (4,...
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