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Google's Math Puzzle

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the weeding-out-us-regular-folk dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Commuters in Cambridge, Mass., are scratching their heads over signs challenging passers-by to solve a complicated math problem. The mysterious banners are actually a job-recruiting pitch from Google."

2 of 564 comments (clear)

  1. Re:not that complicated by Florian+Weimer · · Score: 5, Interesting
    about 20 mins worth of programming, and i'm not that smart. it ends up taking you to this page.

    This one is actually quite easy. We look for a particular host name in Google's address space. So let's try:

    $ host www.google.com
    www.google.com is an alias for www.google.akadns.net.
    www.google.akadns.net has address 216.239.59.147
    www.google.akadns.net has address 216.239.59.99
    www.google.akadns.net has address 216.239.59.104
    $ dnslog 216.239.59.0/24 | grep '^[1-9][0-9]*\.com.A'
    $

    Hmm, no luck. What about the /16?

    $ dnslog 216.239.0.0/16 | grep '^[1-9][0-9]*\.com.A'
    466453.com A 216.239.37.99
    466453.com A 216.239.39.99
    7427466391.com A 216.239.53.184
    466453.com A 216.239.57.99
    $

    Well, we have a candidate, and it is indeed the correct one.

    Once you have that domain name, you can search for more information.

  2. Google GLAT ( Google Labs Aptitude Test ) by nehumanuscrede · · Score: 5, Interesting
    My last two issues of Mensa Bulletin have come with the same type 'ads / puzzles'. The last issue came with a small ( 21 question ) aptitude test / basic resume type question layout complete with a return envelope.

    A few sample questions from it:

    #2 Write a haiku describing possible methods for predicting search traffic seasonality.

    #4 You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike. There is a dusty laptop here with a weak wireless connection. There are dull, lifeless gnomes strolling about. What dost thou do?

    A) Wander aimlessly, bumping into obstacles until you are eaten by a grue.

    B) Use the laptop as a digging device to tunnel to the next level.

    C) Play MPoRPG until the battery dies along with your hopes.

    D) Use the computer to map the nodes of the maze and discover an exit path.

    E) Email your resume to Google, tell the lead gnome you quit and find yourself in a whole different world.

    #9 This space left intentionally blank. Please fill it with something that improves upon emptiness.

    #17 Consider a function which, for a given whole number n, returns the number of ones required when writing out all numbers between 0 and n. For example, f(13)=6. Notice that f(1)=1. What is the next largest n such that f(n)=n?

    #20 What number comes next in the sequence: 10, 9, 60, 90, 70, 66, ?

    A) 96

    B) 1 followed by 100 zeros ( a Googol )

    C) Either of the above

    D) None of the above

    #21 In 29 words or fewer, describe what you would strive to accomplish if you worked at Google Labs.