Guesstimation

Question 1

What is a guesstimate?

Answer 1

An estimate made based on a mixture of guesswork, experience, and calculation, often using inadequate information.

Question 2

When is a guesstimate usually made?

Answer 2

When trying to make a decision based on limited information (e.g., estimating the time it will take to achieve a task).

Question 3

What is the main advantage of a guesstimate?

Answer 3

It allows us to make decisions quickly and effortlessly without overthinking simple things.

Question 4

When should you avoid using guesstimation?

Answer 4

When making high-impact decisions where being wrong can create serious negative consequences.

Question 5

What are the four steps to guesstimation?

Answer 5

Question (clarify the problem), Breakdown (divide into individual issues), Solve (solve each piece), and Consolidate (combine issues/solutions for the final answer).

Question 6

What are the two main approaches to guesstimation?

Answer 6

Top-Down and Bottom-Up approaches.

Question 7

Describe the Bottom-Up approach to guesstimation.

Answer 7

A data-driven, real-time approach that starts with specific characteristics and micro-attributes (incoming stimulus) and works upwards to form a conclusion. It does not require previous knowledge.

Question 8

Describe the Top-Down approach to guesstimation.

Answer 8

An approach that seeks to identify the big picture using previous experiences, expectations, and contextual information to recognize patterns and understand components.

Question 9

Is getting the exact final value important in a guesstimate interview question?

Answer 9

No, most interviewers do not have a specific number in mind. They are evaluating your process for arriving at the answer.

Question 10

What are four key tips for succeeding in a guesstimation interview?

Answer 10

1. Use rounded, easy-to-calculate numbers. 2. Always clarify the question. 3. Explicitly do sanity checks. 4. Present answers structured with visual aids (drawing out components).

Question 11

What is the ultimate goal of a guesstimation problem?

Answer 11

To reveal your way of thinking, imagination, attention to detail, and determination in the face of a complex challenge.

Question 12

How should you handle assumptions in a guesstimate (e.g., ‘How many ping pong balls fit in an airplane?’)?

Answer 12

Don’t just ask the interviewer for numbers; suggest what’s best for you and take the initiative to state your assumptions.

Question 13

When calculating the volume of a plane’s fuselage for a guesstimate, what two dimensions do you need to estimate?

Answer 13

The airplane’s length and the diameter (or radius) of the fuselage.