Count shortest distance in linked list
Last updated: January 29, 2026
Quick Overview
Count the number of maximum path in the given interval list.
DE Shaw
Coding & Algorithms
Software Engineer
DE Shaw
January 29, 2026Software Engineer
Technical Screen
Coding & Algorithms
Hard
12
4
3,939 solved
Count the number of maximum path in the given interval list.
Coding interviews at DE Shaw 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
- 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
Edge cases and input validation
Common algorithm patterns (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS)
Dynamic programming and memoization
Hash maps and frequency counting
Sorting and searching
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
- What if the input doesn't fit in memory?
- How would you parallelize this solution?
- Can you optimize the space complexity of your solution?
- How would your solution change if the input was sorted?
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Practice DSA ProblemsSample Answer
Problem Analysis
The problem requires us to count the number of maximum paths in a linked list that fall within a given interval list. This suggests the use of a two-pointer technique due to the nature of traversi...
Approach
- Initialization: Start by creating a pointer to traverse the linked list. Also, initialize a count for the maximum paths.
- Iterate through the linked list: For each node, check if the curr...
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