Interview Tips >Brain Teaser Interview Question – Ping Pong Ball in a Hole
Many companies have decided to turn to brain teasers rather than traditional interview questions. The goal of these logic puzzles is to see if you have the ability to think outside the box, as well as think logically. It’s easy to train for standard interview questions, but it is hard – very hard – to prepare for logic puzzles.
That is, of course, unless a website like ours gives you the answer. Aren’t we awesome?
Puzzle
Your last ping pong ball fell deep into a thin pipe. The end of the pipe is buried deep into concrete, so the pipe cannot be turned over. The only tools you have with you are a tennis racket, your shoe laces, and a plastic water bottle that is unable to fit into the pipe. How do you get the ball out?
Bad Answer
“Uh… I guess you could crumple up the water bottle so that it does fit. Then tie the water bottle to the shoe laces, and then tie the shoe laces to the tennis paddle. Then I guess you can push it deep into the pipe, and maybe see if the suction from the water bottle can grab onto the ball?”
Good Answer/Correct Answer
“You fill the pipe with water and the ping pong ball will float to the top.”
How to Answer These Logic Puzzles
All of the tools supplied by the logic puzzle are decoys from a much simpler answer. You can say that you will use the water bottle to fill the pipe, but the shoelaces and tennis racket are useless, and in some ways the water bottle plays very little role in the answer as well. Whenever you answer these types of logic puzzles, remember that all brain teasers are designed to make you think. If the answer was as easy as simply putting all 3 objects together, then it wouldn’t be that difficult to answer.
Take Away Interview Tips
- Remember that these questions may be designed to trick you.
- Do your best to think about every aspect of the puzzle.
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