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Let’s look at some common puzzles asked in interviews.
- Crossing the Bridge Puzzle. …
- The Man in the Elevator Puzzle. …
- Heaven or Hell Puzzle. …
- Three Mislabeled Jars. …
- Gold Bar Cut Puzzle.
These “think-out-of-the-box” interview questions are the least predictable kind among 8 types of questions . For these questions, you need a natural talent… or at least that’s what many people say.
I believe that even these seemingly unpredictable brain teasers can be trained for with a rigorous, systematic approach, and I’m going to show you how.
GOOGLE Interview Question || Puzzle : 12 Men On An Island || Hard Logic Puzzle
What are logical interview questions?
Logical interview questions involve solving brainteasers or some type of riddle to show the interviewer your critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills and analytical skills. Logic questions for interview purposes can be used to assess these skillsets as well as gauge the way you ask for information, use resources and work under pressure.
While logical questions can be difficult at times, you can increase your chances of successfully answering these types of interview questions by preparing in advance. There are three main categories of logical interview questions:
Provide an answer
Even if you arrive at an incorrect answer, try to always provide a solution. The interviewer may be most likely assessing the relevancy of your approach and problem-solving methods, and your answer may not be as important to them as your ability to think creatively and attempt to solve problems.
Manhole covers
This logical question can be presented as a riddle, and there are several variations on the format of this puzzle. Here is the question:
Why are manhole covers round?
Example answer: “Manhole covers are round so they never need to be rotated to place the cover back on. Also, circles are the only geometric shape that wont fall in on itself in a similarly-shaped hole, so it should never be able to fall in. For instance, a square manhole cover might fall in a square hole if it were inserted diagonally.”
Question: You have 8 jars of the same size and shape. Seven of the jars weigh 5 ounces while the eighth jar weights 6. You have a scale you can use to measure the jars but you can only measure twice. How do you find out which is the heavier jar?
Companies today are doing whatever they can to try to hire only the best and the brightest. To accomplish this, some companies – Most notably, Microsoft and other IT companies – have added logic puzzles to their standard interview questions. Logic puzzles are designed to provide the company with insight into how well the applicant can solve problems and think outside the box for solutions. They are a great on-the-spot test of intelligence and provide almost as much information as an applicant’s work history. Below are some of the logic puzzles given at job interviews and their answers.
Answer: 28 hours. The snail is travelling at one foot per hour, except on the 28th hour the snail has already reached the top of the well, so it will not slide down the 2 feet.
Answer: You take two jars away. Put 3 jars on one side of the scale and 3 jars on the other side. Measure. If neither of them are heavier, the jar must have been in one of the two you took away. Measure and you will find the jar. If one of the scales did tilt, take 1 jar away of the remaining 3 and measure the two remaining jars on each side of the scale. If one tilts, that is the heavier jar. If neither tilts, the one remaining jar must be the heavy one.
Logic puzzles can be difficult. The key to answering logic puzzle interview questions is not just in solving the problem, but in using sound reasoning. If you don’t know an answer, try your best to explain your thought process. Even if you are wrong, you should be able to impress the interviewer at most job interviews.
You have 3 jars that are all mislabeled. One jar contains Apple, another contains Oranges and the third jar contains a mixture of both Apple and Oranges. You are allowed to pick as many fruits as you want from each jar to fix the labels on the jars. What is the minimum number of fruits that you have to pick and from which jars to correctly label them?
You’ve got someone working for you for seven days and a gold bar to pay him. The gold bar is segmented into seven connected pieces. You must give them a piece of gold at the end of every day. What and where are the fewest number of cuts to the bar of gold that will allow you to pay him 1/7th each day?
You are blindfolded and 10 coins are place in front of you on table. You are allowed to touch the coins, but can’t tell which way up they are by feel. You are told that there are 5 coins head up, and 5 coins tails up but not which ones are which. How do you make two piles of coins each with the same number of heads up? You can flip the coins any number of times.
You are standing before two doors. One of the path leads to heaven and the other one leads to hell. There are two guardians, one by each door. You know one of them always tells the truth and the other always lies, but you don’t know who is the honest one and who is the liar. You can only ask one question to one of them in order to find the way to heaven. What is the question?
You have 100 doors in a row that are all initially closed. you make 100 passes by the doors starting with the first door every time. the first time through you visit every door and toggle the door (if the door is closed, you open it, if its open, you close it). the second time you only visit every 2nd door (door #2, #4, #6). the third time, every 3rd door (door #3, #6, #9), ec, until you only visit the 100th door. What state are the doors in after the last pass? Which are open which are closed?
What Are Brain Teaser Interview Questions?
Brain teasers are riddles and puzzles that require quick, intensive, unconventional thoughts. They are used in interviews to assess the candidate’s “out-of-the-box” and logical thinking capacity. Most brain teasers can be assigned to a few types with the same logical basis.
Brain teaser interview question examples:
FAQ
What are the logical interview questions?
How do you answer a puzzle interview question?
- Think about the problem.
- Ask for clarification.
- Use what you know.
- Explain your reasoning.
- Provide a solution.
How do you approach a puzzle in an interview?
