Microsoft Interview Questions - See how many you can get

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mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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Originally posted by: hypn0tik
5) The answer of 2500 miles posted is incorrect.

You can't combine the speeds of the trains. When the bird starts from LA to NY, it is travelling at 25mph and the train from NY to LA is travelling at 20mph, so essentially, the bird is travelling at 45mph if the train is stationary. However, when the bird is flying from NY to LA, it is still going at 25mph, but the train is travelling at only 15, giving a net velocity of 40mph.

So what's your answer?
 

hypn0tik

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2005
5,866
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Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: hypn0tik
5) The answer of 2500 miles posted is incorrect.

You can't combine the speeds of the trains. When the bird starts from LA to NY, it is travelling at 25mph and the train from NY to LA is travelling at 20mph, so essentially, the bird is travelling at 45mph if the train is stationary. However, when the bird is flying from NY to LA, it is still going at 25mph, but the train is travelling at only 15, giving a net velocity of 40mph.

So what's your answer?


My mistake. You are absolutely correct.

Click

It's much simpler than I was thinking, but my answer should converge to 2500. My apologizes.
 

rubix

Golden Member
Oct 16, 1999
1,302
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i don't know the answers to a single one of those questions. i'd just punch the interviewer in the face and be like "so are you going to hire me or not asshole?"
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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Originally posted by: hypn0tik
It's much simpler than I was thinking, but my answer should converge to 2500. My apologizes.

No need to apoligize. :)
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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Originally posted by: rubix
i don't know the answers to a single one of those questions. i'd just punch the interviewer in the face and be like "so are you going to hire me or not asshole?"

You're too late, nebor and some kid whose username I don't feel like scrolling up to retrieve already did that.
 

oboeguy

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 1999
3,907
0
76
Originally posted by: hypn0tik
4) Cut the bar into 1/7, 2/7 and 4/7 pieces (yes, you can do that with 2 cuts). Give the 1/7 piece after the first day. Take back the 1/7 and give the 2/7 after the second day and so on.

That's not a valid solution because you're assuming the guy holds on to at least part of what you gave him previously. There clearly is no solution to this one, just the "clever" solution "they" want. Meh. Some of the question are pretty decent, though (IMO). I like at least the pill question (didn't get the clever answer right away), the primes, the marbles (though really easy), and the balls question. I like the 17 people question too but I've seen it before (here in fact).

Edit: to clarify, yes, you can make assumptions, but not those that invalidate the quesiton. So by requiring the guy to hold on to his gold, you are effectively not paying him every day.
 

EmperorIQ

Platinum Member
Sep 30, 2003
2,003
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Due to the internet,and the wide spread knowledge of MS type questions, they no longer ask these questions. You'll probably get it once or something, but it isn't as important anymore. They will most likely test you on coding, and designing. Seeing that you're optimal in your solution, and that your thought process is that of a true MS employee.
 

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
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It's hard to imagine people doing this in an acutal interview in about 30 seconds.

For the first one, I got a different answer - It's round because a circle has optimal perimeter (for the surface area) as opposed to a square - so a lot of water could flow through. I could be wrong though.

No one got this one?
Supposing you had 12 balls, ONE of the balls was either lighter OR heavier (you don't know) than the other. What is the least amount of times you can use the scale to determine the odd ball.

It's a nice problem. The answer is 3, but how to do it in 3 weighings is a bit tricky.
 

Bassyhead

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2001
4,545
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I was interviewed by Microsoft last week and they didn't ask me any off-the-wall questions such as these at all. Pretty much the whole interview was having me write a function in C that solved a certain math problem, then doing it differently, then pointing out flaws. They just wanted to see how I tick. Didn't go over my resume or anything academic at all.
 

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
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Originally posted by: Bassyhead
I was interviewed by Microsoft last week and they didn't ask me any off-the-wall questions such as these at all. Pretty much the whole interview was having me write a function in C that solved a certain math problem, then doing it differently, then pointing out flaws. They just wanted to see how I tick. Didn't go over my resume or anything academic at all.

And that, IMHO, is the way to go.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
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Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
Originally posted by: Bassyhead
I was interviewed by Microsoft last week and they didn't ask me any off-the-wall questions such as these at all. Pretty much the whole interview was having me write a function in C that solved a certain math problem, then doing it differently, then pointing out flaws. They just wanted to see how I tick. Didn't go over my resume or anything academic at all.

And that, IMHO, is the way to go.

The types of questions you posted do have a lot of value. Knowing how to code is easy. Knowing how to attack and solve a problem is not so easy.
 

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
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8) You have two jars, 50 red marbles and 50 blue marbles. A jar will be picked at random, and then a marble will be picked from the jar. Placing all of the marbles in the jars, how can you maximize the chances of a red marble being picked? What are the exact odds of getting a red marble using your scheme?
Take 49 red marbles and mix it up with the 50 blue marbles in one jar.

Leave one red marble in the second jar.
 

imported_Phil

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2001
9,837
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Originally posted by: her209
8) You have two jars, 50 red marbles and 50 blue marbles. A jar will be picked at random, and then a marble will be picked from the jar. Placing all of the marbles in the jars, how can you maximize the chances of a red marble being picked? What are the exact odds of getting a red marble using your scheme?
Take 49 red marbles and mix it up with the 50 blue marbles in one jar.

Leave one red marble in the second jar.

Five weeks late, big guy ;) :beer: