Are you preparing for an upcoming interview and looking to sharpen your problem-solving skills? Well, you're in luck! In this guide, we will delve into the world of puzzles for interviews and equip you with the knowledge and answers you need to impress potential employers.
1. How many golf balls can fit in a school bus?
It depends on the size of the bus and the golf balls. The best approach is to estimate the volume of a golf ball and the volume of the bus to arrive at an approximate answer.
2. How would you weigh an elephant without using a weighing scale?
By using displacement, you can fill a container with water, place the elephant in it, and measure the change in water level.
3. You have two ropes that take exactly one hour to burn when lit from one end to the other. However, they don't burn at a consistent rate. How do you measure exactly 45 minutes using only these two ropes?
Light both ends of one rope and one end of another rope at the same time. When the first rope burns out completely, ignite the second end of the second rope. It will take 30 minutes for it to burn completely.
4. You have three boxes labelled "Apples," "Oranges," and "Mixed." Each box is incorrectly labelled, but you know that one contains only apples, one contains only oranges, and one contains a mix of both fruits. Without opening any boxes or looking inside, how can you correctly label each box?
Pick a fruit from the box labelled "Mixed." If it is an apple, then that box must be "Apples" since all labels are incorrect. Similarly, if it is an orange, that box must be "Oranges." The remaining box will then be labelled accordingly.
5. A man pushed his car into a hotel and immediately went bankrupt. Why did this happen?
The man was playing Monopoly.
6. You have five pirates who need to divide 100 gold coins. The pirates are ranked from highest to lowest in terms of their seniority. The highest-ranking pirate proposes a distribution plan, and all the pirates (including the proposer) vote on it. If more than half approve, the gold is divided as proposed; otherwise, the proposing pirate is thrown overboard and killed, and the process continues with the next highest-ranking pirate. How should the highest-ranking pirate propose a plan to maximise his share of gold?
The highest-ranking pirate should propose giving one coin to himself, one coin to the second-highest-ranked pirate, and none to the remaining three. This way, he secures three votes in his favour and keeps 99 coins for himself.
7. A plane crashes on the border between India and Nepal. Where do they bury the survivors?
Survivors are not buried; they are rescued and given medical help.
8. How can you drop an egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?
Concrete floors don't crack easily.
9. You are in a dark room with a candle, a wood stove, and a gas lamp. You only have one matchstick left. What do you light first?
The matchstick.
10. Four people need to cross a bridge in the dark, and they have only one torch. Each person takes a different amount of time to cross the bridge (1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes). They can only cross in pairs with the torch, and someone has to come back with it. What is the shortest time in which they can all cross?
17 minutes
11. Puzzle: A farmer has 17 sheep; all but 9 die. How many are left?
Nine—the rest died.
12. I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?
An echo.
13. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?
Lifting an elephant with one hand is impossible—it's too heavy.
14. What has keys but can't open locks?
A piano.
15. What goes up but never comes down?
Your age.
16. You see a house with three doors—one leads to certain death, one leads to freedom, and the other leads to a room full of lions that haven't eaten in years. Which door do you choose?
The door leading to the room full of lions that haven't eaten in years—they would be dead by now.
17. Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks?
Neither—they both weigh the same, which is one pound.
18. How can you throw a ball as hard as possible and have it return to you even if it doesn’t hit anything before returning?
Throw the ball straight up in the air.
19. If it takes 6 people 9 hours to dig 6 holes, how long does it take for 3 people to dig half a hole?
Three people can't dig half a hole—it doesn't make sense.
20. You are faced with two doors guarded by two guards. One door leads to certain death, while the other door leads to freedom. One guard always tells the truth, and one guard always lies, but you don't know which guard is which or which door leads where. You can ask one question to one guard to determine which door leads to freedom. What question should you ask?
"If I were to ask the other guard which door leads to freedom, what would he say?" Then choose the opposite door.
Mastering Puzzles for Interviews
Remember to stay calm, think logically, and explain your thought process during the interview. With WiZR as your guide, offering expert guidance on upskilling programmes, you can enhance your career prospects and be well-prepared for any puzzle thrown your way.
FAQs
1. Which job roles require puzzle-solving skills?
Puzzle-solving skills are valued in a wide range of professions such as software development, data analysis, consulting, finance, project management, and even marketing.
2. What types of puzzles are asked in interviews?
Interviewers may ask brain teasers, logical reasoning puzzles, coding problems, pattern recognition puzzles, or even riddles to assess a candidate's problem-solving abilities.
3. How can I prepare myself for puzzles in interviews?
You can prepare by practising different types of puzzles regularly. Solve them systematically by breaking down the problem into smaller parts and explaining your approach clearly during mock interviews.
4. Which are the toughest puzzles asked in interviews?
The toughest puzzles vary depending on the company and role but may include mind-bending brain teasers like the infamous "Monty Hall Problem" or complex coding challenges requiring advanced programming skills.
5. Why are puzzles asked during interviews?
Puzzles not only showcase your ability to think critically and creatively but also demonstrate how well you can handle pressure. Interviewers use puzzles to gauge your problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and ability to think on your feet.
