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Detect n-length consecutive sequences

AnthropicSoftware Engineer · Technical Screen
MediumSoftware EngineerTechnical ScreenCoding & Algorithms

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This question evaluates a candidate's competency in algorithm design and data-structure reasoning for detecting n-length consecutive integer sequences, encompassing handling of duplicates, negative values, and dynamic insertions and deletions.

Given an unsorted collection of integers and a parameter n > 0, determine whether there exists a set of n distinct integers that form a run of consecutive values (i.e., some x, x+1, ..., x+n-

  1. regardless of order. If such a run exists, return any one such run; otherwise, return empty. Follow-ups: (a) Handle duplicates and negative numbers; (b) Achieve near-linear time using appropriate data structures; (c) Adapt the design to an online stream supporting insertions and deletions while answering queries about the existence of an n-length consecutive run.