Solve any Pattern Question - Trick Explained | 22 Patterns in 1 Shot | Strivers A2Z DSA Course | take U forward YouTube Video Summary
In this video, the speaker begins to explore the Must do Pattern Problems list of Striver's A2Z DSA Course. He gives tips for solving questions about patterns including the need for loops. The video states the reason for practicing patterns is to master loops and build a strong foundational knowledge of DSA in general. He continues to explain how to combine patterns, what is a test case, and how to check if an algorithm works. He continues to discuss an online compiler which he can use to test his patterns, while still solving them.
Detailed Summary:
Solving Any Pattern Question
In this video, the speaker from takeUforward shares his insights on how to solve any pattern question from a list of 22 in the Striver's A2Z DSA Course. He offers tips, shows test cases, and explains how the steps work towards a goal, all while presenting the code as an interactive example. He begins by laying out the importance of solving pattern problems as a prerequisite before moving on to data structures and algorithms (DSA).
Patterns and DSA
According to the speaker, a strong understanding of loops is important for mastering DSA. Before starting out, the following 4 steps should be used:
- Outer loop- counts the number of lines or rows
- Inner loop - focuses on the columns and connects them somehow to the rows
- Print statements inside the inner loop
- If you can, then observe symmetry.
Common Tips and Tricks
Pattern-based questions are rare in interviews at top-tier companies, there are other things that the interviewer is looking for.
- Know how to combine patterns.
- Know what test cases are and if the patterns are working correctly on those test cases. Note that companies will run more than one test case to check if everything is accurate.
- Know how to use an online compiler as most companies do not have you write in an IDE with auto-complete. The presenter uses Coding Ninjas Code Studio to show some examples.
The presenter completes a few more examples with pattern 17 before closing out the video.