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I've never been asked a to solve a Fermi problem in an interview, but I would most likely require that the interviewer give me the data I need. In the golf ball
by CodeMage 14y ago
I've never been asked a to solve a Fermi problem in an interview, but I would most likely require that the interviewer give me the data I need. In the golf ball example, I would ask for diameter of the golf ball, dimensions of a bus, etc. Otherwise they're just asking me to prove that I have seen a golf ball up close, that I've been riding on double-decker buses and that I'm decent at measuring physical objects with my eyes.
- yummyfajitas 14y agoOr you could guesstimate a diameter of a golf ball and then tell them how much the answer could change as a function of your error, rather than demanding perfect information in an imperfect world. The goal is not to get a precise answer, the goal is to see how you think.
- CodeMage 14y agoSorry, I didn't mean to imply I wanted precise information. Their guesstimate is going to be better than mine, which is why I would ask them for that info. I'm just not comfortable with pulling data out of my lower dorsal region. And I guess that's the part of how I think.