how to deal with edge cases?

00:00:53
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CQR_66YzTw

Summary

TLDRIn mentoring beginner students, it was found that many struggle with developing efficient logic for problem-solving and end up misallocating their time. A common issue is that they overlook problem constraints, which are crucial for guiding solution strategies. The advice given was to always check these constraints to inform the choice of algorithm, as shown in an example from LeetCode, where an array length constraint suggests using an O(N log N) algorithm.

Takeaways

  • 🧑‍🏫 Mentoring is crucial for guiding beginners.
  • 📚 Beginners often overlook problem constraints.
  • ⏰ Checking constraints saves time in problem-solving.
  • 🔍 Analyze example problems for better understanding.
  • 🧠 Efficient logic depends on understanding constraints.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:00:53

    Many beginners, as highlighted by a mentoring session with the speaker, encounter issues where they exhaust their time trying to solve questions, sometimes resulting in a Time Limit Exceeded (TLE) error. A common mistake is to attempt to build logic and jump into solutions without thoroughly considering the problem constraints. The speaker suggests that recognizing constraints, such as array size limits (e.g., n < 10^5 suggesting n log n complexity), can inform the appropriate algorithmic approach and avoid wasted efforts.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What common mistake do beginners make when solving problems?

    Beginners often try to solve problems without fully understanding the constraints, leading to inefficient solutions.

  • What can help improve problem-solving efficiency?

    Checking the constraints of a problem can guide you towards the appropriate algorithm.

  • Why is understanding constraints important?

    Understanding constraints helps in selecting an efficient algorithm that meets the problem's requirements.

  • What example was given from LeetCode?

    An example where the array length is less than 10^5, suggesting an O(N log N) algorithm is needed.

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  • 00:00:00
    are you also trying to write the logic
  • 00:00:03
    of the question and ending up with the
  • 00:00:05
    tle and then you feel that all your time
  • 00:00:08
    got wasted well in my mentoring session
  • 00:00:11
    I found that 50 of my students who are
  • 00:00:14
    beginner they have mentioned that they
  • 00:00:16
    are also feeling same kind of thing so I
  • 00:00:19
    asked them what are they are doing
  • 00:00:21
    actually so actually they are trying to
  • 00:00:23
    read the question and try to build the
  • 00:00:25
    lodging and jump off this with the
  • 00:00:26
    solution but one thing is they are
  • 00:00:29
    missing and the tips I want to share
  • 00:00:30
    with you so whenever there is a question
  • 00:00:32
    try to check what is the constant for
  • 00:00:35
    example in this question which I have
  • 00:00:37
    picked from lead code they have
  • 00:00:39
    mentioned the length of the array will
  • 00:00:42
    be less than 10 to the power 5 that
  • 00:00:43
    means we should go for the N login
  • 00:00:45
    algorithm so whenever you are going for
  • 00:00:48
    one question make sure you are checking
  • 00:00:50
    the constraints and then think of your
  • 00:00:52
    logic thank you
Tags
  • problem-solving
  • programming
  • algorithms
  • mentoring
  • beginner tips