i'm not arguing for or against patents on software, mathematics or otherwise. I'm just saying that answering an interview question about how a particular thing

i'm not arguing for or against patents on software, mathematics or otherwise. I'm just saying that answering an interview question about how a particular thing might be done is not in violation of any patent laws. Replace "method for traversing linked lists" with "a new technique for cutting wood using a new tool" if you feel so strongly about software patents.