> No-one is interested in the number you come up with. They're interested whether or not you have a process you use to come up with that number.
Then ask, "How would you figure out how many golf balls fit in a bus?" This circuitous way around finding out what you want is anathema to most techie types anyway.
My problem with these brainteaser type questions is the interviewer (in my experience) NEVER has had the experience or know-how to interpret the answer; all they have been able to do is get a level of "ah, interesting" type "gut feel" from it. If I'm interviewing with someone who's got the background to be able to analyze what I'm actually thinking, fine, but to date, I've not seen it.
Then ask, "How would you figure out how many golf balls fit in a bus?" This circuitous way around finding out what you want is anathema to most techie types anyway.
My problem with these brainteaser type questions is the interviewer (in my experience) NEVER has had the experience or know-how to interpret the answer; all they have been able to do is get a level of "ah, interesting" type "gut feel" from it. If I'm interviewing with someone who's got the background to be able to analyze what I'm actually thinking, fine, but to date, I've not seen it.