If you cannot see the code of a function, but know that it takes arguments. Is it possible to find the running time speed and memory. If so how would you do it. Is there a way to use Big O in this case?
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If you cannot see the code of a function, but know that it takes arguments. Is it possible to find the running time speed and memory. If so how would you do it. Is there a way to use Big O in this case?
First of all, it is an interview question, so you’d better never say no.
If I were in the interview, here is my approach.
I may ask the interviewer a few questions, as an interview is meant to be interactive.
Because I cannot see the code, I suppose I can at least run it, hopefully, multiple times. This would be my first question: can I run it? (If I cannot run it, then I can do literally nothing with it, and I give up.)
What is the function used for? This may give a hint of the complexity, if the function is written sanely.
What are the type of argument? Are some they primitive types? Try some combinations of them. Are some of them “complex” (e.g. containers)? Try some different size combinations. Are some of them related (e.g. one for a container, and one for the size of the container)? Some test runs can be saved. Besides, I hope the legal ranges of the arguments are given, so I won’t waste time on illegal guesses. Last, to test some marginal cases may help.