DSA Basic Questions: A Comprehensive Review

In this article, we will be exploring some of the most fundamental Data Structure and Algorithm (DSA) questions that are commonly asked in software engineering interviews. These questions cover a wide range of topics, including array manipulation, sorting, searching, and more.

1. Smallest Difference Triplet from Three Arrays

Given three arrays A, B, and C, find the smallest triplet such that the difference between the maximum and minimum values is minimized.

2. Construct an Array from its Pair-Sum Array

Given an array of integers where each element represents the sum of two other elements in the same array, construct the original array.

3. Median in a Stream of Integers (Running Integers)

Design an algorithm to find the median of a stream of integers in O(1) time complexity.

4. Find Maximum Value of Sum(i*arr) with Only Rotations on Given Array Allowed

Given an array and an integer k, find the maximum value that can be obtained by rotating the array and taking the sum of each element multiplied by its index.

5. Sort a Nearly Sorted (or K-Sorted) Array

Design an algorithm to sort an almost-sorted array in O(n log k) time complexity.

6. Space Optimization using Bit Manipulations

Explore the concept of bit manipulation and how it can be used to optimize space complexity for certain algorithms.

7. Merge Sort Tree for Range Order Statistics

Implement a merge sort tree data structure that allows for efficient range queries and order statistics operations.

8. Range Minimum Query (Square Root Decomposition and Sparse Table)

Design an algorithm to answer range minimum queries in O(1) time complexity using square root decomposition and sparse tables.

9. Square Root (Sqrt) Decomposition Algorithm

Introduce the concept of square root decomposition and its applications in solving problems related to array manipulation and querying.

10. Find k Numbers with Most Occurrences in the Given Array

Given an array and an integer k, find the top k elements that occur most frequently in the array.

These are just a few examples of the many DSA questions that can be explored further. In this article, we have attempted to provide a comprehensive review of some of the fundamental concepts and techniques used in solving these types of problems. By mastering these topics, you will be well-prepared for your next software engineering interview.

Dsa basic questions