Sliding Window on interval list

Last updated: January 11, 2026

Quick Overview

Apply the Two Pointers algorithm on a binary tree to solve this optimization problem.

Goldman Sachs
Coding & Algorithms
Software Engineer
Goldman Sachs
January 11, 2026
Software Engineer
Take-home Project
Coding & Algorithms
Medium

20

12

2,135 solved


Apply the Two Pointers algorithm on a binary tree to solve this optimization problem.

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

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
Graph algorithms and traversal
Data structure selection and trade-offs
Tree structures and recursion
Dynamic programming and memoization
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 optimize the space complexity of your solution?
  • How would you parallelize this solution?
  • How would you modify your solution to handle streaming input?
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