Estimation Interview Questions

Exponent - "This is a Fermi problem — an estimation or approximation problem with limited information and back-of-the-envelope calculations. There's no right answer: interviewers want to understand how you think and how well you can explain your reasoning, rather than what you already know. Recall the formula for Fermi problems: Ask clarifying questions Catalog what you know Make equation(s) Think about edge cases to add to equation **Breakdown components of your equat"See full answer

productchamp - "Volume of Boeing 747 / Volume of 1 ping pong ball; subtract the estimated ping pongs in the fuel tank to fine tune"See full answer

Indranil G. - "Are we also considaring the office buildings or only houses? Both So we know the NYC land area is 1254 sqkm 1 square kilometer = 247.105 acres that means 1254 sqkm will be = 309870 acr ( rounding) So this is total space, in this say living area is 80% that means 80% * 309870 = 247896 acrs In this 60% residential which will be 148738 acrs residential area and rest is 99158 acres are business blocks Menas (148738/247) =602 sq km =602178 sq mtr residential and 401449 sq mtr for busine"See full answer

Nishtha - "How much does the Empire State Building weigh? I will estimate the weight of the Empire State Building using a structured approach. I’ll start with clarifying questions, define an equation, make reasonable assumptions, perform calculations, and address trade-offs and potential errors. Clarifying Questions To refine the scope, I considered: How many floors does the Empire State Building have? What is the area per floor? What materials are used (e.g., steel, concrete)"See full answer

Exponent - "This is a Fermi problem — an estimation or approximation problem with limited information and back-of-the-envelope calculations. There's no right answer: interviewers want to understand how you think and how well you can explain your reasoning, rather than what you already know. Recall the formula for Fermi problems: Ask clarifying questions Catalog what you know Make equation(s) Think about edge cases to add to equation **Breakdown components of your equat"See full answer

Exponent - "This is another Fermi problem — an estimation or approximation problem with limited information and back-of-the-envelope calculations. There's no right answer: interviewers want to understand how you think and how well you can explain your reasoning, rather than what you already know. Recall the formula for Fermi problems: Ask clarifying questions Catalog what you know Make equation(s) Think about edge cases to add to equation **Breakdown components of your"See full answer

Ananya M. - "Assumption: question is about people in the US, and we define frequent bar visitor as someone who visits a bar twice a week. we are defining bars as places that people go for alcoholic beverage , not for the snacks , non alcoholic beverage or sports TV population of use 330M , 80m per age group 0-20 (eliminate because drinking age is 21 and above) 60-80 (eliminate because they prefer drinks at home or sit down restaurants or are very health conscious to go drinking) 20-30 : 40m 80%"See full answer

Exponent - "This is a Fermi problem — an estimation or approximation problem with limited information and back-of-the-envelope calculations. There's no right answer: interviewers want to understand how you think and how well you can explain your reasoning, rather than what you already know. Recall the formula for Fermi problems: Ask clarifying questions Catalog what you know Make equation(s) Think about edge cases to add to equation **Breakdown components of your equat"See full answer

S H. - "Clarifications Only travellers to be considered? Or should we consider work staff, people who come to receive and see off people when they are traveling? → In essence who is considered to the count? → Assumption, only travellers. If not then you have to consider, staff (ATC, Security, Airlines ground staff, Customs, shop employees, airport staff etc.) making the estimate very difficult, But If I had to guess I would say 5% of total travellers across all the staffing categories. Estimate"See full answer

Adam C. - "Five to ten"See full answer

Exponent - "This is another Fermi problem — an estimation or approximation problem with limited information and back-of-the-envelope calculations. There's no right answer: interviewers want to understand how you think and how well you can explain your reasoning, rather than what you already know. Recall the formula for Fermi problems: Ask clarifying questions Catalog what you know Make equation(s) Think about edge cases to add to equation **Breakdown components of your"See full answer

Exponent - "This is another Fermi problem — an estimation or approximation problem with limited information and back-of-the-envelope calculations. There's no right answer: interviewers want to understand how you think and how well you can explain your reasoning, rather than what you already know. Recall the formula for Fermi problems: Ask clarifying questions Catalog what you know Make equation(s) Think about edge cases to add to equation **Breakdown components of your"See full answer

Bipin R. - "US Population = 330M Smartphone users (80 percent penetration) = 264M Apple has roughly 40 percent market share and Samsung has 30 percent. Pixel has the roughly 2 percent market share. Total Pixel users = 2 percent of 264M = 5.3M users"See full answer

Ananya M. - "assuming food delivery is about convinience not transport ex: household with working members who own a car might still order in instead of driving. to a restaurant for convenience excludes tips and taxes HH = 100M 90% internet penetration low : mid : high income : 20:50:30 preference for the service 30% (bike service would be slower, one needs to keep that in mind +NY has so many food options , people could cook, meal delivery service, uber eats door dash ) HH with internet penetration that can"See full answer

Exponent - "This is another Fermi problem — an estimation or approximation problem with limited information and back-of-the-envelope calculations. There's no right answer: interviewers want to understand how you think and how well you can explain your reasoning, rather than what you already know. Recall the formula for Fermi problems: Ask clarifying questions Catalog what you know Make equation(s) Think about edge cases to add to equation **Breakdown components of your"See full answer

Exponent - "This is a Fermi problem — an estimation or approximation problem with limited information and back-of-the-envelope calculations. There's no right answer: interviewers want to understand how you think and how well you can explain your reasoning, rather than what you already know. Recall the formula for Fermi problems: Ask clarifying questions Catalog what you know Make equation(s) Think about edge cases to add to equation **Breakdown components of your equat"See full answer