Solve three algorithmic OA tasks
Company: DRW
Role: Software Engineer
Category: Coding & Algorithms
Difficulty: Medium
Interview Round: Take-home Project
Task 1 (Odd-frequency string): Given an integer N in [1..200000], write an algorithm that returns any length-N string of lowercase letters (a–z) such that every letter that appears occurs an odd number of times.
Task 2 (Min-difference with minimal swaps): Given two equal-length digit strings S and T (length N up to 100000, digits only, no leading zeros), you may choose a subset of indices and swap S[i] with T[i] at each chosen index. Among all swap choices that minimize |int(S) − int(T)|, return the minimum number of swaps required. For example, S = "29162" and T = "10524" should return 2.
Task 3 (Two-choice slot assignment): Given arrays A and B of length N (1 ≤ A[k], B[k] ≤ S, A[k] ≠ B[k]) and an integer S (2..
100000), determine whether it is possible to assign every patient k to either A[k] or B[k] so that at most one patient is assigned to each slot. Return true if such an assignment exists, otherwise false.
Quick Answer: Solve three algorithmic OA tasks evaluates algorithm design, data structures, correctness, complexity, edge cases, and implementation details in a realistic interview setting. A strong answer states assumptions, handles edge cases, explains trade-offs, and shows how to validate the result clearly.
Solution
# Solution Alignment
The prompt asks for an implementation-level answer. The safest way to present it is to define the state, maintain clear invariants, then walk through complexity and tests.
## Problem Restatement
Task 1 (Odd-frequency string): Given an integer N in [1..200000], write an algorithm that returns any length-N string of lowercase letters (a–z) such that every letter that appears occurs an odd number of times. Task 2 (Min-difference with minimal swaps): Given two equal-length digit strings S and T (length N up to 100000, digits only, no leading zeros), you may choose a subset of indices and swap S[i] with T[i] at each chosen index. Among all swap choices that minimize |int(S) − int(T)|, return the minimum number of swaps required. For example, S = "29162" and T = "10524" should return 2. Task 3 (Two-choice slot assignment): Given arrays A and B of length N (1 ≤ A[k], B[k] ≤ S, A[k] ≠ B[k])...
## Recommended Approach
Use the string constraints to choose between two pointers, a stack, frequency counts, prefix/suffix state, or dynamic programming. Maintain the invariant that processed characters have already been normalized, counted, or matched according to the operation.
## Correctness
The implementation should maintain an invariant after each loop or operation that directly matches the problem statement. At termination, that invariant implies the returned value has considered every valid candidate exactly once, or has preserved the required data-structure state after every API call.
## Complexity
Most direct string scans are O(n) time. Space ranges from O(1) for two pointers to O(n) for stacks, maps, or DP tables.
## Edge Cases and Tests
Empty string, length 1, repeated characters, invalid characters, case sensitivity, Unicode vs ASCII, and very long input.