## Problem You have `n` servers and a list of request assignments `(server_id, request_weight)`. A distribution is considered "balanced" if the maximum total weight on any server minus the minimum total weight is at most `threshold`. Write a function that checks whether a given assignment is balanced and, if not, returns the servers causing the imbalance. ```python def check_distribution( n: int, assignments: list[tuple[int, float]], threshold: float ) -> tuple[bool, list[int]]: """Return (is_balanced, list_of_imbalanced_server_ids).""" pass ``` ``` Input: n=3, threshold=5.0 assignments = [(0,10),(1,8),(2,20),(0,5),(1,7)] # Server totals: 0->15, 1->15, 2->20 # max-min = 20-15 = 5 balanced Output: (True, []) assignments = [(0,10),(1,3),(2,20)] # Totals: 0->10, 1->3, 2->20. max-min=17 > 5 Output: (False, [1, 2]) ``` ## Follow-ups 1. Define "imbalanced server" clearly — is it servers above average, below average, or at both extremes? 2. How would you rebalance by moving the minimum number of requests? 3. Extend to a real-time streaming version where `check_distribution` is called after each new assignment. 4. How would you write a SQL query to find imbalanced servers if assignments are stored in a table?

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Check Distribution: Verify Load Is Evenly Distributed Across Servers

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Problem You have n servers and a list of request assignments (server_id, request_weight). A distribution is considered "balanced" if the maximum total weight on any server minus the minimum total weight is at most threshold. Write a function that checks whether a given assignment is balanced and, if not, returns the servers causing the imbalance. Follow-ups Define "imbalanced server" clearly — is it servers above average, below average, or at both extremes? How would you rebalance by moving the…

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About This Question

This is a candidate experience report from a perplexity interview during the phone round.

It covers the following topics: Phone, Sql, System Design, Coding, Onsite .

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Phone Sql System Design Coding Onsite

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