Pattern

1. Understand the problem clearly.

• Ask clarifying questions
• Express the problem clearly in our own words, and in abstract terms
• Identify the input & output formats
• Come up with some example inputs & outputs
• Try to find edge cases

2. First solution

• Explain it in simple words
• Solve one of the input step-by-step with the first solution
• Treat edge cases
• Time & Space Complexity analysis
• If you know it’s not the optimal solution, say that
• Look where it is not optimal: time-consuming steps, space-consuming structures
• Iterate what you find to a new solution

3. Optimal solution

• Explain it in simple words
• Solve one of the input step-by-step with the first solution
• State why is better than the first one