Dynamic Programming on binary tree

Last updated: August 29, 2025

Quick Overview

Apply the Sliding Window algorithm on a graph to solve this optimization problem.

Waymo
Coding & Algorithms
Software Engineer
Waymo
August 29, 2025
Software Engineer
Phone Screen
Coding & Algorithms
Medium

15

13

4,416 solved


Apply the Sliding Window algorithm on a graph to solve this optimization problem.

Waymo 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
Edge cases and input validation
Dynamic programming and memoization
Data structure selection and trade-offs
Sorting and searching
Common algorithm patterns (sliding window, two pointers, BFS/DFS)
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
  • How would you modify your solution to handle streaming input?
  • How would you test this solution thoroughly?
  • Can you optimize the space complexity of your solution?
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