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Common Binary Search Questions Asked in Amazon Interview

Updated: May 23, 2023

Binary search is a classic algorithm that is widely used in computer science. It is a powerful tool for searching through large datasets and has many applications in various industries. Amazon, being one of the largest tech companies in the world, is known for its highly competitive interview process. Candidates who are preparing for an Amazon interview should be familiar with the common binary search questions that are frequently asked during the technical interview.



Common Binary Search Questions Asked in Amazon Interview

1. Search in Rotated Sorted Array

The Rotated Sorted Array Search question on LeetCode is a problem that asks you to find a target element in a rotated sorted array. In other words, you are given an array that was originally sorted in ascending order but has been rotated at some pivot point, and you need to determine if a given target element is present in the array.


2. Search a 2D Matrix

The Search a 2D Matrix question on LeetCode is a problem that asks you to search for a target value in a two-dimensional matrix with the following properties:

  • Each row is sorted in ascending order from left to right.

  • The first element of each row is greater than the last element of the previous row.

You are given the matrix and the target value, and you need to determine if the target is present in the matrix or not.


3. Capacity To Ship Packages Within D Days

The Capacity To Ship Packages Within D Days question on LeetCode is a problem that asks you to find the minimum weight capacity of a ship that is needed to ship all the given packages within a certain number of days.


You are given an array of positive integers representing the weights of the packages, and an integer D representing the number of days to ship all the packages. The ship can only carry a maximum weight capacity of X units at once. You need to find the minimum weight capacity of the ship required to ship all the packages within D days.


4. Sqrt(x)

The Sqrt(x) question on LeetCode is a problem that asks you to find the integer square root of a given non-negative integer x. In other words, you need to find the largest integer y such that y^2 is less than or equal to x.



5. Median of Two Sorted Arrays

The Median of Two Sorted Arrays question on LeetCode is a problem that asks you to find the median of two sorted arrays. You are given two arrays of integers, nums1 and nums2, that are sorted in non-decreasing order. Your task is to find the median of the two arrays. The median is the middle element of the merged array of nums1 and nums2, or the average of the two middle elements if the merged array has an even number of elements.



Conclusion


In conclusion, preparing for a technical interview at Amazon can be a challenging task. However, by studying and practicing common binary search questions, candidates can improve their chances of success. The ability to think critically, come up with creative solutions and demonstrate strong problem-solving skills are highly valued at Amazon, and mastering binary search questions can help candidates showcase these skills effectively. By putting in the effort to prepare well for the interview, candidates can increase their chances of landing their dream job at Amazon.

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