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Implement multiplication without using the multiplication operator

Last updated: Mar 29, 2026

Quick Overview

This question evaluates proficiency in bitwise arithmetic, integer overflow semantics, sign handling, and algorithmic efficiency for implementing multiplication without using multiplication or division operators.

  • Medium
  • Other
  • Coding & Algorithms
  • Data Scientist

Implement multiplication without using the multiplication operator

Company: Other

Role: Data Scientist

Category: Coding & Algorithms

Difficulty: Medium

Interview Round: Technical Screen

Implement int multiply(int a, int b) without using * or /. You may use +, −, bitwise operators, and shifts. Requirements: - Handle negatives, zero, and the corner case INT_MIN * −1. - Achieve O(log |b|) additions via shift‑and‑add (Russian peasant), not naive O(|b|) repeated addition. - Assume 32‑bit signed ints. First implement unchecked overflow (two’s‑complement wrap), then a safe version that saturates to INT_MAX/INT_MIN on overflow without using 64‑bit types. - Analyze time and space complexity and prove correctness for all sign combinations. - Provide unit tests: 0×x, 1×x, −1×x, powers of two, random pairs, INT_MAX×2, INT_MIN×2, INT_MIN×−1. Follow‑ups: how would you extend to big integers and compare with Karatsuba? What changes if the platform lacks arithmetic right shift?

Quick Answer: This question evaluates proficiency in bitwise arithmetic, integer overflow semantics, sign handling, and algorithmic efficiency for implementing multiplication without using multiplication or division operators.

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Oct 13, 2025, 9:49 PM
Data Scientist
Technical Screen
Coding & Algorithms
1
0

Implement int multiply(int a, int b) without using * or /. You may use +, −, bitwise operators, and shifts. Requirements:

  • Handle negatives, zero, and the corner case INT_MIN * −1.
  • Achieve O(log |b|) additions via shift‑and‑add (Russian peasant), not naive O(|b|) repeated addition.
  • Assume 32‑bit signed ints. First implement unchecked overflow (two’s‑complement wrap), then a safe version that saturates to INT_MAX/INT_MIN on overflow without using 64‑bit types.
  • Analyze time and space complexity and prove correctness for all sign combinations.
  • Provide unit tests: 0×x, 1×x, −1×x, powers of two, random pairs, INT_MAX×2, INT_MIN×2, INT_MIN×−1. Follow‑ups: how would you extend to big integers and compare with Karatsuba? What changes if the platform lacks arithmetic right shift?

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