Approach

To effectively answer the question about calculating the amount of water trapped after rain, we can break down the problem-solving process into structured steps:

1. Understand the Problem: Recognize that the elevation map is represented by an array of integers where each integer corresponds to the height of a bar.

2. Identify Key Elements: Determine the maximum heights to the left and right of each bar, as this will influence how much water can be trapped above each bar.

3. Calculate Water Trapped: For each bar, the water that can be trapped above it is determined by the minimum of the maximum heights on both sides minus the height of the bar itself.

4. Iterate Through the Array: Use a loop to calculate the total water trapped for each bar and sum it up.

Key Points

• Clarity on Requirements: Interviewers seek your problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and understanding of algorithms.

• Efficiency Matters: Aim for an optimal solution; O(n) time complexity is preferred over O(n^2) where possible.

• Use of Data Structures: Be prepared to discuss the use of auxiliary data structures like arrays for storing maximum heights.

Standard Response

Here’s a comprehensive and structured response to the interview question:

def trap(height):
 if not height:
 return 0

 n = len(height)
 left_max = [0] * n
 right_max = [0] * n
 water_trapped = 0

 # Fill left_max array
 left_max[0] = height[0]
 for i in range(1, n):
 left_max[i] = max(left_max[i - 1], height[i])

 # Fill right_max array
 right_max[n - 1] = height[n - 1]
 for i in range(n - 2, -1, -1):
 right_max[i] = max(right_max[i + 1], height[i])

 # Calculate water trapped
 for i in range(n):
 water_trapped += min(left_max[i], right_max[i]) - height[i]

 return water_trapped

• Initialization: We start by checking if the height list is empty. If it is, we return 0 immediately.

• Left and Right Max Arrays: We create two arrays, leftmax and rightmax, to store the maximum heights to the left and right of each bar, respectively.

• Traversal: We traverse the elevation map twice—first to fill leftmax and then to fill rightmax.

• Water Calculation: Finally, we loop through each bar to calculate the trapped water using the formula: min(leftmax[i], rightmax[i]) - height[i].

• Explanation:

Tips & Variations

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Ignoring Edge Cases: Always consider cases with no bars or a single bar, where no water can be trapped.

• Inefficient Solutions: Avoid nested loops which can lead to O(n^2) complexity when a linear solution exists.

Alternative Ways to Answer:

• Two-Pointer Technique: Describe an alternative solution using two pointers to maintain space efficiency, which reduces auxiliary space usage.

Role-Specific Variations:

• Technical Roles: Emphasize algorithm efficiency, complexity analysis, and potential optimizations.

• Managerial Roles: Focus on team collaboration and how you might approach the problem with your team, discussing brainstorming sessions and problem breakdowns.

Follow-Up Questions

• Can you explain the time and space complexity of your solution?

• What would you do if the input array could contain negative integers?

• How would you optimize the memory usage further?

By following this structured approach, job seekers can confidently articulate their problem-solving process and demonstrate their technical skills effectively during interviews, especially when tackling algorithmic questions