Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
Puzzle Description
3.
Solution
4.
Frequently Asked Questions
4.1.
What is a puzzle interview?
4.2.
How do you answer a puzzle in an interview?
4.3.
Why do we do puzzles in interviews?
5.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024

Color of the Bear

Author Tashmit
0 upvote
Career growth poll
Do you think IIT Guwahati certified course can help you in your career?
Interview Puzzles

Introduction

A puzzle is a magnificent measure of one's analytical skills and lateral thinking. Many product-based companies ask the riddles to help them filter candidates based on their real-world problem-solving skills to approach a problem they have not seen before.

A puzzle may have multiple solutions. The interviewer is generally interested in the candidate's approach to solving the mystery and the approach to building and thinking creatively about the answer to the puzzle.

On the same note, we will discuss an exciting puzzle commonly asked in interviews; the Color of the bear.

Puzzle Description

A bear starts falling from a height of 10 meters and hits the ground sqrt(2) seconds later. Fortunately, as bears are strong and tough animals, it was lucky enough to survive the fall and did not get hurt. What is the color of the bear?

Solution

The bear was of white color.

We are given the Height = 10m, Time = sqrt(2)

Therefore applying the equation of motion for uniformly accelerated motion,

h = (1/2) g x t

Or

g = (2 x 10) / sqrt(2)2

Where g = gravity

After solving, g = 10m/s; this is the maximum gravity value on earth and occurs at the POLES. So the Color of the bear is white because it is a polar bear found at the North pole.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a puzzle interview?

Microsoft popularized the puzzle interview in the 1990s. Puzzle interviewers ask applicants to solve puzzles to check their analytical thinking skills.

How do you answer a puzzle in an interview?

First of all, think about the problem and carefully understand the question interviewer is trying to ask. Ask for any clarifications, if there are any. Lastly, don't just tell the answer, but clearly explain the solution.

Why do we do puzzles in interviews?

Puzzles are generally asked to see how you go about solving tricky problems. 

Conclusion

This article extensively discussed the Color of the Bear puzzle and provided its solution. 

Recommended Readings:


Do check out The Interview guide for Product Based Companies as well as some of the Popular Interview Problems from Top companies like Amazon, Adobe, Google, etc. on Coding Ninjas Studio.

Also check out some of the Guided Paths on topics such as Interview Puzzles, Data Structure and Algorithms, Competitive Programming, Operating Systems, Computer Networks, DBMS, System Design, etc. as well as some Contests, Test Series, Interview Bundles, and some Interview Experiences curated by top Industry Experts only on Coding Ninjas Studio.

Live masterclass