Technical interview questions asking candidates to implement a calculator are frequently encountered during the hiring process, particularly within firms like Goldman Sachs. Discussions on platforms such as Reddit reveal various approaches to tackling such questions, encompassing both basic arithmetic calculators and more complex implementations involving operator precedence and error handling. This type of question aims to assess a candidate’s proficiency in data structures, algorithms, and software design principles.
The importance of this question lies in its ability to evaluate a candidate’s ability to translate abstract requirements into concrete code. Successfully designing and implementing a calculator demonstrates a strong understanding of fundamental programming concepts and the ability to solve problems in a structured and efficient manner. Historically, such questions have been staples in technical interviews due to their relatively straightforward problem statement and their capacity to reveal a wide range of programming skills.
