Use of applied mathematics during hiring process for developers
Math is a fundamental science. It can be applied during hiring process for developers. It can help developers to demonstrate problem solving skills and at the same time will allow employer to evaluate what skills does developer really has.
What country are you from?
- United Kingdom
- Latvia
- p
- Lithuania
- Lithuania
- luxembourg
- Lithuania
- USA
- Lithuania
- United States
Do you like math?
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Lentelė
What is your education?
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Lentelė
How many years of experience you have?
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Lentelė
What is your expertise area?
- Web software, i.e. Django Sites
- Web
- l
- Web
- web
- software
- HR
- Basic Software (algorithms, etc)
- web
- Web
Do you use math for work related reasons?
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How many job interviews you have had?
- 2
- 5
- p
- ~8
- 5
- 5
- hard to say
- Looking for work: dozens, interviewing applicants: hundreds
- 3
- 2
How many of those had a math task for you to solve?
- 0
- 0
- p
- none
- none
- 0
- maybe 5
- a few, depending on what you mean by 'math'
- 0
- 0
If you remember a task, write it down:
- p
- quick counting
- big O question one or two times. Logic problems a few times. I think no 'just plain arithmetic'. I think no algebra.
- I remember a task.
- -
What skills a developer is able to demonstrate while solving a math task during job interview?
- Problem solving and a logical approach to problems
- Sbility to solve math tasks. :) Only rarely it is related to software development skills.
- p
- Logic
- competence, analytical skills, logical, linear thinking
- analysis, good grasp of logic
- good reaction
- logical thought, background, lack of panic
- tackling problems, fast thinking
- N/A
Please solve a task. We have 5 similar coins, 3 of those are real and weight the same, while 2 are fake. 1 fake coin is lighter and the other is heavier than the real ones. How many weighting operations we will need to find at least one real coin?
- 2
- 3
- p
- 3
- at least 3, maximum 4
- 2
- 1
- Your problem statement is flawed. I can discover both coins by weighing each of 4 coins. If I discover the 'odd' coins in the first three, I can stop then.
- 2
- Don't know
How long did it take you to solve this task?
- < 30 seconds
- 5 minutes
- p
- instantly
- ~ 1 min
- 30 seconds
- 2
- 15 seconds, mostly to write it
- 5min
- Couldn't
What qualities does this task helps to demonstrate?
- logical thought processes
- Logic thinking, may be
- p
- sharp mind, concentration
- deductive thinking
- nothing
- 3
- logic, ability to understand the question
- don't know
- No idea
Please solve a task. A train has a set of cars that connected and has same number of seats. Two old ladies always ride in the same car and sits in the seats numbered 144 and 155. While two old guys that are fighting constantly always take seats that are separated by one car minimum. They usually sit in seats numbered 208 and 222. How many seats there are in a car?
- 12
- 13
- p
- 11-13
- between 11 and 13
- 12
- 4
- at least 11, no more than 13
- 12
- Don't Know
How long did it take you to solve this task?
- 2 minutes
- 1.5 minutes
- p
- 30 secs
- ~2min
- 30 seconds
- 5
- 30 seconds?
- 2min
- Couldn't
Please solve a task. If you take 20102010 and divide it by 2010 and subtract 2 from result - how many digits the answer will have?
- 5
- 4
- p
- 4
- 5
- 4
- 6
- 4
- 4
- 4
How long did it take you to solve this task?
- 20 seconds
- 5 seconds
- p
- 10 secs
- ~1min
- 5 seconds
- 7
- 15 seconds
- 1min
- 10 seconds
What qualities does this task helps to demonstrate?
- problem solving and ability to make a problem simpler but get the correct answer
- Ability to save several seconds by not running calculator program
- p
- algebra skills
- how frequently the person uses pure math
- recognising patterns
- 8
- arithmetic (or maybe, 'quickk calculation')
- don't know
- Don't know
Please solve a task. How it is possible to make two squares from 13 building blocks?
- Ring of side length 4 (12 blocks) and 1 block by itself. 2 squares.
- 9+4 - Don't understand the task in fact, and how am I supposed to give an answer? attach picture? :)
- p
- The task does not say, that these building blocks are all equal :), so in many ways.
- imposible
- 3x3 and 2x2 squares (9+4=13)
- 9
- 4 + 9
- 9/4
- Don't know
How long did it take you to solve this task?
- 2 minutes
- 5 minutes
- p
- instantly
- ~minute and a half
- 5 seconds
- 10
- 10 seconds
- 4min
- Couldn't
What qualities does this task helps to demonstrate?
- spacial awareness
- Understanding strange tasks :)
- l
- Read tasks carefully :)
- quick thinking
- nothing
- 11
- rapid calculation, 'what is a square'
- don't know
- Don't know
Please solve a task. Look at the picture and write what is the area of a figure marked with ?
- 11
- 15
- 10
- 15
- ?
- 16
- 12
- ?
- 19 ?
- Don't know
How long did it take you to solve this task?
- 40 seconds
- 10 minutes
- l
- hours and hours
- didnt solve it, got distracted at work and decided it takes too much time :)
- unknown - did not solve, had a guess
- 13
- I looked at it for a minute or so. What are the numbers? Area? Length (of which line?)
- 30min
- Couldn't
What qualities does this task helps to demonstrate?
- Geometry ability
- Geometric skills
- l
- geometry, trigonometry, damn
- perseverance
- no idea
- 14
- dunno
- don't know
- Don't know