SMIRK Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I interviewed with Susquehanna a few years ago > before taking a job with a real company. They > asked a lot of dice and coin flipping questions in > both round 1 and 2. I got tripped up by the “if > you flip a coin 10 times and it comes up heads 10 > times, what’s the probability that it comes up > heads on the 11th flip” question. Answer: not 50%. 1/2 for a fair coin (gambler’s fallacy). otherwise the answer is - not enough info to calculate any exact probabilities. perhaps you didnt understand the question
As a previous poster mentioned, there most definitely is a right answer to every question they ask. You would’ve gotten dinged for answering 50%. Like I said, the answer is somewhere between 90-95%.
SMIRK Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > As a previous poster mentioned, there most > definitely is a right answer to every question > they ask. that might be the case in general, hence my assertion that you didn’t capture some piece of info in the question they asked you either cause you forgot it, missed it or didnt think it was important. You would’ve gotten dinged for answering > 50%. Like I said, the answer is somewhere between > 90-95%. not to your question it isnt.
Well you should probably take it up with them then since that is the answer they gave me. Then again you’re probably too smart to work there.
you either have a solution or you have nothing. “answer” doesnt count.
SMIRK Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > No clue what the answer was. And no offense but > I’m surprised that KarenC got an interview coming > from a more qualitative background. Lol, I think you’ll be yelled at in no time.
dont have my calculator handy but shouldnt the answer be .5^11
jax26 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > dont have my calculator handy but shouldnt the > answer be .5^11 That would be the answer to what is the prob of 11 heads in a row BEFORE you start flipping, not the answer given you already tossed 10 heads and are getting ready for the 11th flip.
Hmm. It seems like people are making this a lot more complicated than it has to be. This is a very simple problem. 1) If we can assume the coin is fair, than the answer is 50%, without a doubt. 2) If we are given other assumptions (for instance, that the coin could have two heads), then we can easily work those into the solution. It all depends on what conditions the people have set up for the problem.
SMIRK Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > No clue what the answer was. And no offense but > I’m surprised that KarenC got an interview coming > from a more qualitative background. I am not going to yell but I would like to know why you think my background is Qualitative - what makes you think my background hasn’t been based on math and stats dear?? Better check your sources before you make statements like the above!
It’s those Ds that’s helping landing the interviews.
I knew somebody who used to work there in ER, although she’s moved on. She worked on the market intelligence area (think she headed it up). She looked very tired much of the time, more so than other ER people I know. Maybe that’s indicative of the culture, or maybe she just had mono or something. I interviewed there, doubt I would have gotten the job since I don’t think I was very impressive at that time in my career, but I took another offer before going all the way through the process. Are you interviewing for general HR or a specific industry/research group? Like, if you are going to be writing SS option strategy pieces, definitely study the h3ll out of the probability and poker stuff. If not, then look at it but not as much and focus more on the company stuff. Obviously don’t say that you hate poker and you are a fatalist at heart or something.
Hello Mister Walrus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hmm. It seems like people are making this a lot > more complicated than it has to be. This is a very > simple problem. > > 1) If we can assume the coin is fair, than the > answer is 50%, without a doubt. > > 2) If we are given other assumptions (for > instance, that the coin could have two heads), > then we can easily work those into the solution. > It all depends on what conditions the people have > set up for the problem. well that’s right. the way SMIRK stated the problem, without any extra info or assumptions, there is no answer 90-95% as he claims. that’s why i said he probably omitted some info from the original question
People, this argument about an interview question is ridiculous. They try to test the way you think with these questions, and they probably expect that you know how to do the math. There is only a 0.5^10 (10%) chance of you getting 10 heads in a row, so if that happens you should be skeptical and think the game is rigged and there is info of which you are not aware. Then, they want to see what skeptical assumptions you make.
eureka Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- There is only a 0.5^10 (10%) > chance of you getting 10 heads in a row, Math fail. But I agree with the rest of your post - it’s a question about how you think, not your math skills.
when they ask you at SIG what’s the probability for you to get a full house given that you are dealt 2 jacks in texas hold’em, they dont wanna hear about your strategy to bluff the rest of the table and pocket the pot, they want to hear a number. it’s usually very clear what type of question it is when you hear it, and whether the answer should be a one-word number or a long answer describing your thought process.
cfagoal2 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It’s those Ds that’s helping landing the > interviews. You will actually make me yell… Why, when I try to give an honest answer that might actually help someone, do you try to dismiss my advice by making sexist remarks or saying I don’t have the background without checking facts. I wouldn’t say you got an interview based on your looks so show some respect back. I also don’t make assumptions about someone when no information has been given. This is the very reason why I stick to off topic comments!
SORRY
thx super misread the question
]I think Chad should ban cfagoal2’s a$s for being a sexist. AF is a respect-based community.