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Category Archives: Sample Qs
Interview Question: Logit in Excel
Sample Question #323 (Excel) We’re interested in implementing a logit model, but we only want to implement it in Excel using only its built-in tools. [That is, we’re not buying third-party add-ins for this.] Describe to me in general terms … Continue reading
Interview Question: Accessing Access
Sample Question #322 (programming) Briefly explain how you can read from and write to an Access database from within an Excel spreadsheet. Can you also show me how you would do the read and write in VBA (in Excel)?
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Tagged Access, computer science, data linking, database, Excel, IT, programming, spreadsheet, VBA
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Interview Question: Who Worries About Risk?
Sample Question #321 (finance) Briefly explain the concept of risk-neutral valuation. Also, why do you think it’s okay to apply risk-neutral valuation, given that we know few investors are actually risk-neutral. What are some of the most important implications of the … Continue reading
Interview Question: Hedge Portfolio
Sample Question #320 (finance – options) In the context of the Black-Scholes formula, what variables do you need to derive the hedge ratio?
Interview Question: Badly Formed Data
Sample Question #319 (programming – R) In R (or S-Plus), how do you read in the following data: 1,2 3,4,5,6 7,,8,9,10,11, ,12,13,,,14,N/A (Notice all the irregularities in the input data fields. N/A stands for not available and is to be … Continue reading
Interview Question: Fingering the End
Sample Question #318 (programming – C++) How do you find out if a linked list has an end to it, i.e., not a loop?
Interview Question: Count ’em All
Sample Question #317 (brainteaser) How many cities and towns are there in Germany [or China, or India, or South Africa, or Japan, or the UK, or the U.S.]? Variant: how many streets are there in France [or Russia, … Continue reading
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Interview Question: Lemma on Ito’s Lemma
Sample Question #316 (math – stochastics) What are the key assumptions behind Ito’s Lemma? How do you decide if you can apply the lemma or not?
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Interview Question: C++ Memory Allocation
Sample Question #315 (programming – C++) Discuss the validity of using malloc() or calloc() for memory allocation in C++. Why or why not would you use these functions? [This is a very popular question. Hint: how does C++ … Continue reading
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Interview Question: Database Architecting
Sample Question #314 (computer science – algorithms) [A real-world question asked of a C.S. grad] How would you implement an efficient database that can hold 50 years of price/volume/dividend data for all the stocks in the world? Just … Continue reading
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Interview Question: Chaining in Calculus
Sample Question #313 (math) (A real-world interview question) Formally state the Chain Rule. Can you sketch a proof? [Tip: when someone asks you to "formally" state a theorem, he/she expects you to mention the conditions under … Continue reading
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Interview Question: Winning Big
Sample Question #312 (probability theory) Consider the following two lottery games: Game 1: you pick 5 unique numbers from 1 to 52. You win the jackpot if all five numbers of yours match the winning numbers. Game … Continue reading
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Interview Question: Prime Average
Sample Question #311 (math) Can the average of two consecutive prime numbers ever be a prime, too? Prove your answer mathematically. [Hint: read the question carefully… this is a really easy one]
Interview Question: Class vs. Object
Sample Question #310 (C++ programming) [This is a classic. I’ve been asked on more than one occasion] Tell me the difference between a class and an object. At compile time, what happens when the C++ compiler encounters a … Continue reading
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Interview Question: Impossible Odds
Sample Question #309 (probability theory) Another fun brainteaser-type question involving odds. The odds of winning the Powerball lottery in the U.S. on one ticket is 1 in 195,249,054. ($1 buys one ticket.) How many $1 tickets do you … Continue reading
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Interview Question: Too Good to Be True
Sample Question #308 (finance) A heretofore obscure hedge fund manager claims that, since 1990, his opportunistic strategy, coupled with "reasonable" leverage and "superb" risk management, has averaged 66% in annualized gross return. Why is this claim not believable? [Answer … Continue reading
Interview Question: Destruction Visited
Sample Question #307 (programming – C++) In C++, when is a class’s destructor called? What exactly happens to the data storage and namespace when the destructor is executed? [Typical real-world question that tests your fundamental knowledge of the inner … Continue reading
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Interview Question: Playing Volatility
Sample Question #306 (finance case question) Let’s say you expect market volatility to go up significantly over the next six months. List at least three ways by which you can profit from this expectation (assuming you’ll be right, of … Continue reading
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Interview Question: TV Episodes
Sample Question #305 (statistics) A children’s claymation show called Little People has five major characters: Eddie, Sarah Lynn, Sonya Lee, Maggie, and Michael. Each Little People show has five stories (episodes), each story focusing on one of the five … Continue reading
Interview Question: Goodness of Fit
Sample Question #304 (statistics) Explain the difference between R2 and adjusted-R2. When is R2 (or adjusted-R2) not useful?
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