Staff Software Engineer, Infrastructure, Google Ads

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Given n pairs of parentheses, what is the total number of different, valid combinations of those parenthesis? For example: For n = 1, the only valid combination is (), so the answer is 1. For n = 2, the valid combinations are ()() and (()), so the answer is 2. For n = 3, the valid combinations are ((())), (()()), (())(), ()(()), and ()()(), so the answer is 5. Calculate the number of valid parenthesis combinations for a given n. Explain the formula or method used to arrive at the answer. What is the underlying mathematical concept at play here, and how does it ensure that we only count valid combinations, avoiding invalid ones such as )()(? Detail the relationship between this problem and Catalan numbers, and discuss how this relationship can be utilized to efficiently compute the number of valid combinations, even for relatively large values of n.

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API Design Question: E-commerce Product Catalog Let's design a simplified API for an e-commerce product catalog. Imagine you're building the backend for a website like Amazon or Etsy, focusing specifically on how products are stored and retrieved. This API will allow client applications (like web browsers or mobile apps) to browse, search, and view product details. Define the Core Entities: What are the essential attributes of a Product? Consider attributes like product_id, name, description, price, category, image_url, and inventory_count. Are there other attributes you would include? Justify your choices. Design the API Endpoints: Propose the main API endpoints for interacting with the product catalog. Focus on the following functionalities. Provide example requests and responses (in JSON format) for each endpoint: Retrieve a product by ID: (/products/{product_id}) Search for products: (/products?keyword=example&category=example) List products by category: (/categories/{category_name}/products) Considerations: How would you handle pagination for large product lists? How would you implement filtering and sorting options in the search endpoint? (e.g., filter by price range, sort by popularity). How would you handle different image sizes and formats? Example Scenario: A user searches for red shoes on the website. Describe how the API would be used to fulfill this request, including the specific endpoint called, the parameters passed, and the format of the expected response.

Google

Can you describe a time you had to work with a difficult team member and how you handled the situation? This is a common behavioral interview question designed to assess your interpersonal skills, conflict resolution abilities, and ability to work effectively in a team environment, even when faced with challenges. When answering this question, it's crucial to provide a specific example, detailing the situation, your actions, and the resulting outcome. This allows the interviewer to understand your approach and evaluate your effectiveness. For instance, you might discuss a project where a team member consistently missed deadlines, hindering the team's progress. In your response, you should: Describe the Situation: Clearly outline the project, the team member's role, and the specific behaviors that made them difficult to work with (e.g., missed deadlines, lack of communication, negative attitude). Be objective and avoid accusatory language. Explain Your Actions: Detail the steps you took to address the situation. Did you have a one-on-one conversation with the team member? Did you involve a supervisor or mentor? Did you try to understand the reasons behind their behavior? Did you adjust your own approach to accommodate their needs? Highlight the Result: Explain the outcome of your actions. Were you able to resolve the issue? Did the team member improve their performance? What did you learn from the experience? Even if the outcome wasn't ideal, focus on the lessons learned and how you would approach a similar situation in the future. Remember, the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) can be a helpful framework for structuring your answer. The interviewer wants to see that you can navigate challenging interpersonal dynamics professionally and contribute to a positive team environment.