Round 1
Questions:
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529. Random Pick with Weight
Discussed the solution involving cumulative sum of weights and the necessity of binary search. -
408. Valid Word Abbreviation
Explained the two-pointer technique and implemented it quickly.
Candidate's Approach
For the first question, the candidate proposed a solution using cumulative sums of weights and explained the need for binary search. During coding, they encountered bugs, such as returning the right index instead of the left.
For the second question, the candidate implemented the two-pointer technique but faced bugs that were identified during a dry run. Some issues were pointed out by the interviewer, including mistakenly using p1 for p2.
Interviewer's Feedback
The interviewer provided hints to help the candidate fix boundary condition issues during the coding process.