Interview Question

martyc5674

Had an interview last week.
A question at the end was a maths question... when I figured it out the panel looked at one another and said I got it wrong.
Im pretty strong at maths, and I’m also pretty sure I got the answer right.( i remember the exact question and have since worked it out again... same answer as I gave in interview)

Would it be possible they wanted to see my reaction to being told I had it wrong?... and how I acted in this situation?

Or would that be nuts?

TallGlass

What was the question and what was the answer. So we can see if your right or wrong first!

martyc5674

Basically... you’ve small boxes and big boxes.
Big is 24*21*4
Small is 8*4*3
How many small can fit in the big...
Answer I gave 21...

GalwayGrrrrrl

I make the answer 21 too. Weird.

Nickla

Is it a maths question or logic question - the big box is only 4 high and the small box is 3 high so there will be space left over - I worked out 15 boxes will fit in.


Sorry just checked it - 21 does look right to me too

wally1990

got 20 boxes as my answer

My method for 20 was

24/8 = 3

21/4=5.25

4/3=1.33

Then 3*5.25*1.33 = 20.95

But

I also see how everyone else got 21

Tigger

21 boxes if the rotation isn’t important
3 high and 7 long

Prospectors

wally1990 wrote: »

got 20 boxes as my answer

My method for 20 was

24/8 = 3

21/4=5.25

4/3=1.33

Then 3*5.25*1.33 = 20.95

But

I also see how everyone else got 21

Assuming they are looking for whole boxes so could it be 3*5*1=15?

wally1990

Op

Did they tell you the correct answer ?

jimmycrackcorm

wally1990 wrote:

got 20 boxes as my answer

I got 20 also based on integer calculation but I also visualised it to work out the same.

I didn't look though if there was an optimum.

What type of job was the interview for?

fritzelly

Whichever way I do it I get 21 as well...maybe they worked it out wrong...

nsa0bupkd3948x

What was the role?

They could have wanted you to flatten the small boxes to fit in large box..

fritzelly

Bennett Orange Jack wrote: »

What was the role?

They could have wanted you to flatten the small boxes to fit in large box..

Maybe it was for Amazon and you should only put one small box in a very large box?

martyc5674

No they didn’t give the answer... question was described as a spacial awareness puzzle.
The job certainly wasn’t Amazon!!...or anything to do with boxes.
I think they might have had the wrong answer.. and I’m not sure if I should contact them or not about it, cos I know most people might not have gotten it right on the spot in an interview situation with just a pencil and paper.
But how do u contact them without looking like a twat!
And the competition for this role is really high... 12 chosen to interview for each role.
Marty.

s7ryf3925pivug

The person who said it was wrong was probably the person your performance would be assessed by etc.

The people who you'd work with probably all got it wrong in the same way.

Going to say the job isn't as desirable as you think it is.

tina1040

The smaller volume divides into the bigger volume 21 times but as boxes aren't flexible or liquid....
15 boxes will fit as per wally's calculation but as you can't have a fraction of a box it's 15, not 20.

martyc5674

tina1040 wrote: »

The smaller volume divides into the bigger volume 21 times but as boxes aren't flexible or liquid....
15 boxes will fit as per wally's calculation but as you can't have a fraction of a box it's 15, not 20.

No, 21 will actually fit without crushing them!

Dick Turnip

I got 21 too

JustAThought

Was it for google - you know the way they'rw known for their mind games - or maybe you are right and the panel is playing amateur psychology with you! Either way do NOT go ringing them looking to argue your point!!!

Best of luck for the job : )

AndrewJRenko

Had you been advised to expect tests like this as part of the interview?

martyc5674