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Compute maximum sum in a tree without adjacency

Last updated: Mar 29, 2026

Quick Overview

This question evaluates dynamic programming on trees and graph component identification by requiring selection of non-adjacent nodes to maximize a sum, targeting skills in tree algorithms, constraint-based optimization, and rigorous correctness and complexity reasoning.

  • Medium
  • ZipHQ
  • Coding & Algorithms
  • Software Engineer

Compute maximum sum in a tree without adjacency

Company: ZipHQ

Role: Software Engineer

Category: Coding & Algorithms

Difficulty: Medium

Interview Round: Technical Screen

Given a tree where each node has an integer value, select a subset of nodes to maximize the sum under the constraint that if you choose a node, you cannot choose any of its children (i.e., no parent–child pair can both be chosen). Implement a function that returns the maximum achievable sum. Describe your algorithm, justify correctness, and analyze time and space complexity. Follow-up: How would you handle a forest (multiple disconnected trees)? Explain how you would identify components and compute the overall result.

Quick Answer: This question evaluates dynamic programming on trees and graph component identification by requiring selection of non-adjacent nodes to maximize a sum, targeting skills in tree algorithms, constraint-based optimization, and rigorous correctness and complexity reasoning.

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ZipHQ
Aug 12, 2025, 12:00 AM
Software Engineer
Technical Screen
Coding & Algorithms
20
0

Given a tree where each node has an integer value, select a subset of nodes to maximize the sum under the constraint that if you choose a node, you cannot choose any of its children (i.e., no parent–child pair can both be chosen). Implement a function that returns the maximum achievable sum. Describe your algorithm, justify correctness, and analyze time and space complexity. Follow-up: How would you handle a forest (multiple disconnected trees)? Explain how you would identify components and compute the overall result.

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