Bumblebee

problem: two trains enter a tunnel 200 miles long (yeah, its a big tunnel) travelling at 100 mph at the same time from opposite directions. as soon as they enter the tunnel a supersonic bee flying at 1000 mph starts from one train and heads toward the other one. as soon as it reaches the other one it turns around and heads back toward the first, going back and forth between the trains until the trains collide in a fiery explosion in the middle of the tunnel (the bee survives). how far did the bee travel?

Solution

solution: this puzzle falls pretty high on my aha scale. my first inclination when i heard it was to think “ok, so i just need to sum up the distances that the bee travels…” but then you quickly realize that its a difficult (not impossible) summation which the interviewer could hardly expect you to answer (unless i guess if you are looking for a job as a quant). “there must be a trick” you say. eh, sort of i guess, enough to say that this question is a stupid interview question.

the tunnel is 200 miles long. the trains meet in the middle travelling at 100 mph, so it takes them an hour to reach the middle. the bee is travelling 1000 mph for an hour (since its flying the whole time the trains are racing toward one another) – so basically the bee goes 1000 miles.

there is no process to explain, so this question can’t possibly teach you anything about the person. they either know it or they don’t and if they already knew it before you asked, you’re not going to be able to tell when they give you the answer. so don’t ask this question. and if someone asks you this question, just tell them you’ve already heard it before.

ERRORS

Errors in Measurement :

Error = Measured Value – True Value

E_m = V_m – V_t

1. Absolute Error :

            True absolute error :

= Result of measurement – True Value

            Apparent Absolute error :

= Result of measurement – Arithmetic Value

2. Relative error :

It is defined as the results of the absolute error and the value of comparison used for 450

calculation of that absolute error.

Causes of Errors :

1. Calibration Error:

These are caused due to the variation in the calibrated scale from it’s normal value.

2. Environmental Error :

These are caused due to humidity condition,Temperature and altitude.

3. Assembly Error:

i. Displaced Scale (incorrect Fitting)

ii. Non –uniform division of the scale.

iii. Due to bent /distorted pointer.

4. Random Error:

Naturally Occurred

No specific reasons

5. Systematic errors (or) Bias errors:

These are caused due to repeated readings.

6. Chaotic errors :

These are caused due to vibrations,noises and shocks.