|
Remember those little logic puzzles your crazy uncle
used to throw your way after Thanksgiving dinner to see if he could
stump you? Well, they have been given new life and function in
consulting, investment banking, and high-tech industry job interviews.
Brainteaser cases can take many forms. Some are straightforward logic
puzzles (for example, "If you have a drawer filled with eight white
socks and 13 black socks, what is the smallest number you would have to
pull out without looking in order to be sure that you had a matching
pair?"). Other questions might not have a single correct answer.
Instead, they may serve as a platform for you to demonstrate your
creativity and ability to think "out-of-the-box." For example, your
interviewer might ask you to list all the ways you could find a needle
in a haystack.
It's always a good idea to let your interviewer know
what you are thinking as you attack the question. Even if you don't end
up with the right answer, your analytical ability will be on display.
Also, if you do start down the wrong track, your interviewer may be kind
enough to nudge you down another path.
Even if an idea seems really outlandish, you should
probably offer it up. Brainteasers are often designed to showcase an
individual's creativity. The only sure way not to get any points on such
a question is to sit there like a rabbit in the headlights. Thump!
Sample Brainteaser (and Solution):
This is a little logic puzzle that could be given to undergrads, MBAs,
or advanced-degree candidates.
You have eight balls, one of which is heavier than the others. All the
balls appear identical. You have a balance-type scale, and you can
perform trials on the balls. What is the minimum number of trials
required to determine which is the heaviest ball?
Solution:
Two. You start by putting three balls on each side of the scale. There
are two basic outcomes: one set of three is heavier, or both sets are in
balance. If one set is heavier, you choose two balls from that set and
weigh one on each side of the balance. If the balls balance, you know
that the remaining one from the set is the heavy one. In the second
outcome from the first measurement, the two sets of three balls are in
balance. That means the heavy ball is among the remaining two. Weigh
them, and you'll have your answer. |
