Comments on: Fastest horse Interview question

By: Kamal Rawat

Kamal Rawat — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 08:18:20 +0000

You mean to say that the 2nd horse from the group of 2'nd fastest horse (because the third horse from this group can only come at 4'th position – at least the fastest is at top)
This horse (which came 2nd in first round of 2'nd fastest horse) is being taken care of while considering the 3rd position.

By: Kamal Rawat

Kamal Rawat — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 08:16:11 +0000

I think these cases are being taken care of:
1. While finding the 2nd fastest horse we consider the horse that came 2nd in first round of race involving the fastest horse. While finding the 3rd fastest horse we consider the horse that came 3rd in the first round of race involving the fastest horse.
2. All top horses from each group actually move to 6'th race. So they are all taken care of.
3. A) In this case 3rd horse has to be the one which came 2nd in the 6'th race.Hence being taken care of.
3. B) In this case 2nd horse has to be the one which came 2nd in the 6'th race (because he has beaten the toppers from each group).Hence being taken care of.
3. C) In this case the 2nd horse is the one which came 2nd in the 6'th race. and we did consider the horse defeated by this horse in the first round/
I think, the cases that you were enumerating over phone are all taken care of.. or is there anything that is left ?

By: Manoj Ghangas

Manoj Ghangas — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 17:18:52 +0000

We need to cater to below 3 Scenarios for the optimal solution:
1. All top 3 horses are from same group
2. All are from different groups
3. 2 are from one group and they can be:
A) 1st and 2nd from same group
B) 1st and 3rd from same group
C) 2nd and 3rd from same group

By: Manoj Ghangas

Manoj Ghangas — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 14:25:28 +0000

I don't have optimal solution right now but I see flaw in the optimal solution; what if 3rd horse from 2nd fastest horse's group is faster than fastest horse's 2nd horse?