Constraint Satisfaction Problems — AI Technical Interview Questions & Answers

Constraint Satisfaction Problems

Constraint Satisfaction Problems

  • CSP: variables, domains, constraints. Sudoku, map colouring, timetables. Solve by search + constraint propagation (arc consistency). 8-queens is the textbook CSP: one queen per row, no shared column/diagonal.
  • Don’t start with genetic algorithms. First: variables + domains + constraints, then backtracking.
  • Constraint Satisfaction Problems — output: A= R B= G and A= G B= R. Neighbours differ. Sudoku is the same idea bigger.
  data → train / test
           │
           ▼
         model
           │
           ▼
        predict

Technical Interview Tip: Define CSP + one example.

Code Examples for Constraint Satisfaction Problems

Example

# CSP — 2-node map
# tiny map colour: A-B neighbours, 2 colours
colours = ["R", "G"]
for a in colours:
    for b in colours:
        if a != b:
            print("A=", a, "B=", b)

Constraint Satisfaction Problems — output: A= R B= G and A= G B= R. Neighbours differ. Sudoku is the same idea bigger.

How to Explain Constraint Satisfaction Problems to an Interviewer

Explain Constraint Satisfaction Problems as if you are teaching a junior — definition, then one example.

Variables, domains, constraints. Map colour / Sudoku / 8-queens.

What does the example print, and what does that prove?

Constraint Satisfaction Problems — output: A= R B= G and A= G B= R

What mistake do freshers make with Constraint Satisfaction Problems?

Only the buzzword, no example