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A bigger problem I have with these problems is that I do not feel motivated to solve or even think about such problems. My internal reaction therefore always i
by alok-g 15y ago
A bigger problem I have with these problems is that I do not feel motivated to solve or even think about such problems. My internal reaction therefore always is, why do I care how many golf balls fit, even if I do not say it out loud.
For whatever problem the interviewer poses me, I would like them to supply me the context around that problem so I can see what is the benefit of solving it. Solving it for the sake of the interview is not a valid answer for me.
There are a plenty of important problems to be solved for me to not waste a minute on a useless one.
- planetguy 15y agoY'see, with that attitude I wouldn't hire you. I don't want people who solve problems because they're important, I want people who solve problems because they're intensely curious and just love solving problems.
- alok-g 14y agoWithout knowing why the problem is important, you do not really understand the problem yourself. Understanding the problem better is often even more challenging than solving the problem (once understood). I have seen people go circles around trying to solve the problem at hand without reaching the solution that actually solves the problem, just because they did not understand the problem correctly to begin with. There indeed are curious problems. Estimating number of golf balls that can fit into a bus is certainly not one of them. Try to come up with a curious problem, then we'll talk.