Here are some of the sharp-edged puzzles you need to be able to solve to work for Google. Me, I won’t be heading there any time soon.
The cleverness often lies not in finding the answers, tough though that certainly is. Rather it’s all about identifying the real question:
7. What is the most beautiful equation you have ever seen?
Asked of Google engineers, this question prompts you to analyse how an equation can be "beautiful" and then to give a suitable example. The one certain thing about beauty is that it’s subjective. Even so, most conclude that a beautiful equation is concise and of universal significance. Note, however, that you’re not just trying to think of a beautiful equation; you’re trying to impress the interviewer with your originality. It helps to give an equation that the interviewer doesn’t hear every day.
Most would agree this is a lame answer:
E = MC2
It’s like a politician saying his favorite movie is Titanic.
Read on to find some better answers.
And then wonder how we need to teach children to get them anywhere close to this level of insight and logical astuteness as adults.