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Showing posts from April, 2014

Two sticks and matchbox, measure exactly 45 minutes by burning these sticks

Question: You have two sticks and matchbox. Each stick takes exactly an hour to burn from one end to the other. The sticks are not identical and do not burn at a constant rate. As a result, two equal lengths of the stick would not necessarily burn in the same amount of time.  How would you measure exactly 45 minutes by burning these sticks? Answer: This puzzle used to be asked in Wall Street interviews long time ago. It is very rare for this question to be asked now but it is a very good question to help you think a little outside the normal thought process. The answer is really simple. Since the sticks do not burn at a constant rate, we can not use the length of the stick as any sort of measurement of time. If we light a stick, it takes 60 minutes to burn completely. What if we light the stick from both sides? It will take exactly half the original time, i.e. 30 minutes to burn completely. 0 minutes – Light stick 1 on both sides and stick 2 on one side. 30 minut

Aptitude Question - what is the proportion of boys to girls in the country?

Question: In a country where everyone wants a boy, each family continues having babies till they have a boy. After some time, what is the proportion of boys to girls in the country? (Assuming probability of having a boy or a girl is the same) Answer: This is a very simple probability question in a software interview. This question might be a little old to be ever asked again but it is a good warm up. Assume there are C number of couples so there would be C boys. The number of girls can be calculated by the following method. Number of girls = 0*(Probability of 0 girls) + 1*(Probability of 1 girl) + 2*(Probability of 2 girls) + … Number of girls = 0*(C*1/2) + 1*(C*1/2*1/2) + 2*(C*1/2*1/2*1/2) + … Number of girls = 0 + C/4 + 2*C/8 + 3*C/16 + … Number of girls = C (using mathematical formulas; it becomes apparent if you just sum up the first 4-5 terms) Thus the proportion of boys to girls is 1 : 1 .

Finding the sub-array with the largest sum.

Question: You are given an array with integers (both positive and negative) in any random order. Find the sub-array with the largest sum. Answer: This is an all-time favorite software interview question. The best way to solve this puzzle is to use Kadane’s algorithm which runs in O(n) time. The idea is to keep scanning through the array and calculating the maximum sub-array that ends at every position. The sub-array will either contain a range of numbers if the array has intermixed positive and negative values, or it will contain the least negative value if the array has only negative values. Here’s some code to illustrate.   void maxSumSubArray( int *array, int len, int *start, int *end, int *maxSum ) { int maxSumSoFar = -2147483648; int curSum = 0; int a = b = s = i = 0; for( i = 0; i < len; i++ ) { curSum += array[i]; if ( curSum > maxSumSoFar ) { maxSumSoFar = curSum; a = s; b = i; }

Reverse a Linked-list. Write code in C.

Question : Reverse a Linked-list. Write code in C. Answer: There are multiple ways to go about this. Let’s first look at a recursive solution.   Node * reverse( Node * ptr , Node * previous) { Node * temp; if(ptr->next == NULL) { ptr->next = previous; return ptr; } else { temp = reverse(ptr->next, ptr); ptr->next = previous; return temp; } } reversedHead = reverse(head, NULL); Now for a non-recursive solution.   Node * reverse( Node * ptr ) { Node * temp; Node * previous = NULL; while(ptr != NULL) { temp = ptr->next; ptr->next = previous; previous = ptr; ptr = temp; } return previous; }   If anyone has any modifications or a better methods, please post it up. Comments are always welcome.

TCS Aptitude test, Placement Questions with Solution

1) If log 0.317=0.3332 and log 0.318=0.3364 then find log 0.319 ? Sol: log 0.317=0.3332 and log 0.318=0.3364, then log 0.319=log0.318+(log0.318-log0.317) = 0.3396 2) A box of 150 packets consists of 1kg packets and 2kg packets. Total weight of box is 264kg. How many 2kg packets are there ? Sol: x= 2 kg Packs y= 1 kg packs x + y = 150     .......... Eqn 1 2x + y = 264   .......... Eqn 2 Solve the Simultaneous equation; x = 114 so, y = 36 ANS :  Number of 2 kg Packs = 114. 3) My flight takes of at 2am from a place at 18N 10E and landed 10 Hrs later at a place with coordinates 36N70W. What is the local time when my plane landed? Options: a)6:00 am b) 6:40am c) 7:40 d) 7:00 e) 8:00 Sol: The destination place is 80 degree west to the starting place. Hence the time difference between these two places is 5 hour 20 min. (=24hr*80/360). When the flight landed, the time at the starting place is 12 noon (2 AM + 10 hours). Hence, the time at the destination place is 12

Upcoming Exams Dates and Details- Government, Bank..

Upcoming Notifications: Banks : Recruitment Board Post name SBI Clerks SBI Associate Bank PO UPSC : Post Date Exam Name Last Date 17/05/2014 Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam 2014 16/06/2014 17/05/2014 Indian Forest Services (Preliminary) Exam 2014 16/06/2014 21/06/2014 NDA & NA Exam (II) 2014 21/07/2014 19/07/2014 CDS Exam(II) 2014 18/08/2014 SSC : Post Date Exam Name Last Date 24/05/2014 Stenographer (Gr C&D) Exam 2014 20/06/2014 19/07/2014 Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Exam 2014 15/08/2014 09/08/2014 Junior Translator (CSOLS)/Jr Hindi Translator Exam 2014 05/09/2014 Indian Army : Notification Date Name of The Course Tentative Course of Commencement . TNPSC : Post Date Exam Name Tentative Vacancies 1st Week of March 2014  (To be Notified Later) Group VI Examination (Forest Apprentice) 26 3rd Week of March 2014  (To be Notified Later) Assistant Works Manage

Head First Java 2nd Edition - Popular Book

  Rs. 625 This is a book that is tailored for Java novices. Ideal for those who are interested in learning Java but have been put off by the complexities of learning the language, Head First Java explores a new way of teaching the same. Head First Java is aimed at people who are complete novices when it comes to programming with the language, and the book makes the learning experience fun - one that?s filled with innovative and novel measures. If you?re not a fan of wracking your brain with dull theoretical concepts that put you to sleep, Head First Java can be a welcome addition to your shelf. The book starts from the fundamentals and progresses to extremely advanced levels, employing an easy-to-learn approach throughout. From distributed programming with RMI and network sockets, object oriented design, and object properties and methods, to graphical user interfaces, Java archives, network connectivity and Java 5.0, the book explores every facet of the pr

Android device emulator shortcuts

Escape - Back button Home - Home button F2, PageUp - Menu button Shift-F2, PageDown - Start button F3 - Call/Dial button F4 - Hangup/EndCall button F5 - Search button F7 - Power button Ctrl-F3, Ctrl-KEYPAD_5 - Camera button Ctrl-F5, KEYPAD_PLUS - Volume up button Ctrl-F6, KEYPAD_MINUS - Volume down button KEYPAD_5 DPAD - center KEYPAD_4, KEYPAD_6 DPAD left, DPAD - right KEYPAD_8, KEYPAD_2 DPAD up, DPAD - down F8 - Toggle cell network on/off F9 - Toggle code profiling (when -trace set) Alt-ENTER - Toggle fullscreen mode Ctrl-T Toggle - trackball mode Ctrl-F11, - KEYPAD_7 Ctrl-F12, - KEYPAD_9