Amazon Interview Question for Software Engineer / Developers


Country: United States
Interview Type: Written Test




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8
of 12 vote

They should take challenge 1. This is an n choose k problem. The probability of getting 2 out of 3 throws is 50%. There are 2^3 = 8 possible outcomes (e.g., makes it, misses it, makes it). To figure out how many of these 8 possible outcomes results in a win, add (3 choose 2), which equals 3, with (3 choose 3), which equals 1. 4/8 = 50%

In challenge 2, there are 2^6 = 64 possible outcomes. To figure out how many of these 64 possible outcomes results in a win add (6 choose 4), (6 choose 5), and (6 choose 6) together. (6 choose 4) =15, (6 choose 5) = 6, (6 choose 6) = 1. So there are 22/64 possible outcomes where the player would win, giving the player a 34.375% chance of winning.

Since 50% > 34.375%, the player should choose challenge 1.

- JRS November 13, 2014 | Flag Reply
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0
of 0 votes

As noted in another response, this answer assumes that the probability of scoring is 0.5. At other probabilities, challenge 2 is actually better.

- JRS November 13, 2014 | Flag
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3
of 3 vote

I don't think all of these answers consider the case that if you succeed, you won't continue making shots.

For example in challenge 1, you could make both shots ( p * p ), fail the first shot ( (1-p) * p * p) or fail the second shot ( p * (1 - p) * p). This sums to

2 * (1-p) * p^2 + p^2 (which simplifies to p^2 * (3-2p) )

And for the second challenge

p^4 (make all shots)

4 * (1-p) * p^4 (fail one shot)

10 * (1-p)^2 * p^4 (fail 2 shots)

which simplifies to

p^4 * ( 10 p^2 -24 p + 15 )

solving for these equations, you find that if shot percentage is less than about 78.5%, Challenge 1 should be picked. Challenge 2 should be picked if shot percentage is better than 78.5%

- zortlord November 13, 2014 | Flag Reply
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0
of 0 votes

Why do you consider ((1 - p) * p) a fail shot?

- ftonello January 13, 2015 | Flag
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0
of 0 votes

p is the probability to make a shot. (1-p) is the probability to not make a shot. ( (1-p) * p) is the probability to fail a shot and make a shot considered as the same series.

- zortlord January 13, 2015 | Flag
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0
of 0 vote

In challenge 2 the sample space is higher than challenge 1, hence I think we need to choose challenge 2.

- jeevanus November 16, 2014 | Flag Reply
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0
of 0 vote

It depends on how good you are. Current posts on this thread assume you have a 50% shooting accuracy.

The longer method involves a [n choose p * x^p * (1-x)^n-p] vs [m choose q * x^q * (1-x)^m-q] computation.

The shorter solution is that if your shooting accuracy is x and the desired accuracy is y
If x<y, you choose lesser trials; Else choose more trials.

This is because, probabilities are truly reflected over a larger sample space. For example, coin toss probability starts at an extreme number and evens towards 1/2 over several trials.

If x<y, you are looking for an extreme result and hence better to choose small sample. If x>y, you are looking for the normal result and hence choose the larger sample.

Form is temporary. Class is permanent.

- Balakrishnan Vijay December 03, 2014 | Flag Reply
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-1
of 1 vote

While the two challenges have the same probability, we might have to take into account the independence condition in between throws. Suppose that you choose 6 shoots, after each throw, you might have a better throw and thus the independence between the shoots are violated. The player might want to choose the second option in light of this!

- nlavee November 13, 2014 | Flag Reply
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-1
of 1 vote

Using Binomial Coefficient When taking 6 attempts:
Challenge 1: C(3,2) * C(3,2) = 9
Challenge 2: C(6,4) =15

Since there are 15 ways to score 4 out of 6 in challenge 2 scheme compared to 9 ways to score 4 out of 6 in challenge one scheme, challenge two is a better choice as it gives the more flexibility to the shot taker.

- ahj November 13, 2014 | Flag Reply
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-1
of 1 vote

Why hasn't anyone considered the situations where a player wouldn't continue. For example, for 2 out of 3 shots, if the percentage change to succeed is 'p', then the chance to succeed is equal to:

(1-p) * p * p + p * (1-p) * p + p * p.
This simplifies to

2*(1-p) * p * p + p * p (which is basically the probability of only 1 miss plus the probability of no misses)

Here's a short table:
p | succeed
25% | 15.6%
50% | 50.0%
75% | 84.4%

for Challenge 2, the chances can be computed similarly:

10 * (1-p)^2 * p^4 + 4 * (1-p) * p^4 + p^4 = p^4 ( (1-p) * ( 10 * (1-p) + 4 ) + 1 )

Here's a table:
p | Win
25% | 3.8%
50% | 34.4%
75% | 83.1%

There is, however, a point a which it's better to choose challenge 2. That's when p gets to about 78.5%

- zortlord November 13, 2014 | Flag Reply
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-2
of 2 vote

Both challenges have the same probability

- Vik November 13, 2014 | Flag Reply
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-2
of 2 vote

The second challenge has a slightly higher probability of .666..... (or .67) compared to the first one with .6

- Anonymous November 13, 2014 | Flag Reply
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-2
of 4 vote

One should remember that if you get 3 out of 3 you win and if you get 5 out of 6 or 6 out of 6 you also win. One should also realize that this is not a coin toss with a fare coin rather a basket ball game. So the probability of getting one basket in a toss is not necessarily 50%.
Call the probability of getting one basket p
So for the first option you get
p*p*(1-p) + p*(1-p)*p +(1-p)*p*p + p*p*p
corresponding to basket basket miss + basket miss basket + miss basket basket + basket+ basket+ basket
or 3*p^2*(1-p) + p^3
3*p^2- 3*p^3 + p^3
3*p^2-2*p^3
For 4 baskets out of 6 you get
6 choose 4 case when you get exactly 4 baskets
6!/4! /2!
6 * 5 / 2
15
With a probability of p^4*(1-p)^2
p^4*(1-2*p+p^2)
p^4 - 2*p^5 + p^6
for a total probability of
15*p^4 - 30*p^5 + p^6
for 1 miss you get
6 possible sequences with a probability of p^5 *(1-p)
6*(p^5- p^6)
6*p^5 - 6*p^6
And the probability of 6 out of 6 is
P^6
So the total probability is
15*p^4 - 24*p^5 -4*p^6
Verses 3*p^2-2*p^3
So I guess the answer is: it depends on P which is probably why one gets to chose
If you turn it into an equality and dived both sides by p^2 you get
15*p^2 - 24*p^3 -4*p^4 = 3 - 2*p
But I don’t think there is a closed from for this though you may be able to factor it to find the cross over point. If someone wants to write the code and run it you should be able to solve this numerically.
Transfor this to
I went to a web root finder and
O dear I only get negative and complex roots
So it guess one is better than the other or I have made a mistake
P <= 1
So for 3-2*p you would win with 100% probability if you could get a basket with 100% probability that seems to work
For the other then
15*p^2 - 24*p^3 -4*p^4
You get 15-24-4 which is not 1
so I have an error and now it is time to go to sleep
I hand it over to whomever wants to take up the problem where I left off

- Dr A.D.M. November 13, 2014 | Flag Reply
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0
of 0 votes

In 6 choose 4 case when you get exactly 4 baskets, the total probability should be 15*p^4 - 30*p^5 + 15*p^6 ——you have missed a 15 before p^6.

And I finally got the result: when p > 1 or 0 < p < 0.1*(2-sqrt(34) or 0.1*(2+sqrt(34)) < p < 1, 4 out of 6 shall have larger possiblity of success.

- jiyouguo November 13, 2014 | Flag
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0
of 0 votes

yes i think this is the correct explanation to this solution. we use binomial coefficient where we need to find exactly k successes in n trail. but here in question they are asking 4 out of 6 (not exactly i think ) and 5 out of 6 and 6 out of 6 should also taken in account

- code.guruji November 15, 2014 | Flag


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