DFS on interval list
Last updated: May 5, 2026
Quick Overview
Given a list of intervals, implement a Depth-First Search (DFS) algorithm to find all possible combinations of non-overlapping intervals. The input will be a list of intervals represented as pairs of integers, and the output should be a list of lists, where each inner list contains a combination of non-overlapping intervals. Ensure your solution efficiently handles overlapping intervals and returns all unique combinations.
Jump Trading
May 5, 2026250
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4,173 solved
Given a list of intervals, implement a Depth-First Search (DFS) algorithm to find all possible combinations of non-overlapping intervals. The input will be a list of intervals represented as pairs of integers, and the output should be a list of lists, where each inner list contains a combination of non-overlapping intervals. Ensure your solution efficiently handles overlapping intervals and returns all unique combinations.
Coding interviews at Jump Trading 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
- What is the worst-case input for your solution?
- What if the input doesn't fit in memory?
- Can you solve this iteratively instead of recursively (or vice versa)?
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Practice DSA ProblemsSample Answer
Problem Analysis
The problem requires us to find all combinations of non-overlapping intervals from a given list. The key challenge is to effectively handle overlapping intervals and ensure that we explore all potenti...
Approach
- Sort the Intervals: First, sort the intervals by their start times. This helps in easily identifying overlapping intervals. For example, given intervals
[[1, 3], [2, 4], [5, 7]], after sortin...
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