Dynamic Programming on graph

Last updated: July 23, 2025

Quick Overview

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

Lyft
Coding & Algorithms
Machine Learning Engineer
Lyft
July 23, 2025
Machine Learning Engineer
Technical Screen
Coding & Algorithms
Hard

119

8

1,298 solved


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

This coding problem is frequently asked during Technical Screen at Lyft. The interviewer is testing your ability to translate a problem into clean, working code while discussing time and space complexity. Lyft expects candidates to write production-quality code, not just solve the puzzle.

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
Sorting and searching
Dynamic programming and memoization
Data structure selection and trade-offs
Binary search and divide and conquer
Tree structures and recursion
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
  • Can you solve this in a single pass?
  • What is the worst-case input for your solution?
  • How would you parallelize this solution?
  • Can you solve this iteratively instead of recursively (or vice versa)?
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