Smarten Spaces Interview Questions and Answers

Algorithms for manipulating arrays and strings in coding

• Use sorting algorithms like quicksort and mergesort for arrays

• Use string manipulation functions like substring and replace for strings

• Use dynamic programming for optimizing solutions to array and string problems

Designing a large scale Ad Server

• Use distributed systems for scalability

• Implement caching for faster ad delivery

• Ensure high availability and fault tolerance

• Use real-time bidding for efficient ad placement

• Implement fraud detection mechanisms

• Ensure compliance with privacy regulations

I am an avid traveler and have visited over 20 countries

• I love experiencing new cultures and trying new foods

• I have backpacked through Europe and Asia

• I have volunteered in orphanages in Cambodia and Nepal

Mobile advertising platform

• Adtech

• Mobile marketing

• App monetization

Probability of a horse going out of a chessboard in 'n' steps.

• The total number of possible moves for a horse is 8.

• The probability of going out of the board depends on the position of the horse.

• For example, if the horse is at a corner, the probability of going out of the board is higher.

• The probability can be calculated using combinatorics and geometry.

Maximum sub sequence sum in an array

• Use Kadane's algorithm

• Initialize max_so_far and max_ending_here to 0

• Iterate through the array and update max_ending_here and max_so_far

• Return max_so_far

Endianness refers to the byte order of a system. It determines how multi-byte data types are stored in memory.

• Little-endian systems store the least significant byte first, while big-endian systems store the most significant byte first.

• Endianness can affect the way data is transmitted between systems.

• To determine the endianness of a system, you can use the byte order mark (BOM) or write a test program that checks the by...read more

Sort an array of 0's and 1's only.

• Use two pointers, one at the beginning and one at the end of the array.

• Swap 0's from the beginning with 1's from the end until the pointers meet.

• Alternatively, use a counting sort algorithm to count the number of 0's and 1's and then reconstruct the array.

Heaps are data structures used to efficiently find the maximum or minimum element in a collection.

• Max heap: parent nodes are always greater than or equal to child nodes

• Min heap: parent nodes are always smaller than or equal to child nodes

• Heaps are commonly used in priority queues and sorting algorithms

• Heap operations include insert, delete, and extract max/min

• Example: An array [3, 8, 2, 5, 1, 4, 6] can be represented a

Find 3 numbers in an array where a+b=c.

• Loop through the array and check for all possible combinations of a and b.

• Use a hash table to store the values of a and b, and check if c is present in the hash table.

• Sort the array and use two pointers to find a and b, and then check if their sum equals c.

I got to participate in a robotics competition at IIT

• Designed and built a robot from scratch

• Programmed the robot to complete tasks autonomously

• Competed against other teams from different colleges

• Learned valuable skills in engineering and teamwork

I chose IIT for its reputation and opportunities. No regrets. The environment is competitive and challenging.

• IIT has a strong reputation for producing successful graduates

• I was attracted to the opportunities for research and innovation

• The academic environment is highly competitive and challenging

• I have no regrets about my decision to attend IIT

A portfolio is a collection of investments. Risk can be measured through standard deviation, beta, or value at risk.

• A portfolio is a combination of different investments such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

• The purpose of a portfolio is to diversify investments and reduce risk.

• Risk can be measured through standard deviation, which measures the volatility of returns.

• Beta measures the sensitivity of a portfolio to mar...read more

Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility. Value at risk is a statistical measure of potential losses. Formula for beta is Covariance(Stock, Market) / Variance(Market).

• Beta measures a stock's sensitivity to market movements.

• Value at risk is the maximum potential loss that an investment portfolio may suffer within a given time frame.

• Beta formula is calculated by dividing the covariance of the stock and market returns by...read more

Covariance measures the relationship between two variables. It measures sensitivity by indicating the direction of the relationship.

• Covariance is a statistical measure that shows how two variables are related to each other.

• It measures the direction of the relationship between two variables.

• A positive covariance indicates that the two variables move in the same direction.

• A negative covariance indicates that the two vari...read more

WACC is the weighted average cost of capital. To value a company, one can use various methods such as DCF, comparables, or precedent transactions. A method to decide on project undertaking is NPV analysis.

• WACC is the average cost of all the capital a company has raised

• To value a company, one can use DCF, comparables, or precedent transactions

• DCF involves projecting future cash flows and discounting them back to present...read more