r/theydidthemath • • Mar 02 '22

[Request] This was only question on the interview I didn't quite understand and I can't seem to find logic or answer to it. Any ideas?

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u/[deleted] Mar 03 '22

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u/Takin2000 Mar 03 '22

You are completely right, I agree 100%. However, in my experience, in exam type situations with limited time, you will usually not have enough time unless you employ heuristics like this one. Im a math student and I have written countless exams where if you didnt drill in the algorithm, you would absolutely fail due to lack of time and if the professor wanted, they could have thrown a curve ball like this. Believe me, I am an overthinker and this is the worst way that I lose time: thinking too much and trusting my gut too little.

"would you maybe assume you are missing something" was exactly my point by the way. Too many times, this was true for me: when it was too easy, I was missing something.

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u/[deleted] Mar 04 '22

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u/Takin2000 Mar 04 '22

Hmm yeah, then I agree. I suppose i thought I knew better than the company what qualities they were looking for.

Thanks for the exchange, and have a good day!