11/8/12 Fresh Interview Stories | 70 Associate Product Manager Interview Questions

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PostedbyAdminon2/9/20101:15PM|Comments(0) Tags:productmarketingmanager,questions| Includecommentsinsearch

SoIdecidedtocompilealistcontainingalltheinterviewquestions(somewithmyversion IndeedJobs
oftheanswer)IcouldfindfortheAssociateProductManagerandProductManager
what
positionforGoogle.

jobtitle,keywords
BeforeIpostthem,hereisalittlesomethingIfound.
where
Googleisawareofthesequestions(theymustbesinceIusedthemtofindthese
questions),soitisnotfarfetchedtoassumethatthequestionsyouwillbeaskedonyour city,state,zip

googleinterviewwontbesimilartothatlistedbelow.Ifoundthatinterviewersare Find Jobs

encouragedtocomeupwiththeirownquestionsandthereisalistofbannedquestions jobsby
(questionswidelyknownandlistedinsiteslikemine).Ifyougetaquestionfromthislist
andtheyfigureout(sinceyouweretoquicktoanswer),theywilleithermakeitharderor
Categories
askanotherone
None

Thatbeingsaid,usethislistasawaytoprepareyourselffrompastquestionsaskedfor
associateproductmangerandproductmanager. Tags
algorithm analytics
adwords
Questionsingreenaremostrecentquestions(questionsaskedwithin6monthperiod answers boston c++questions
position). california excellence failed first
interview google india interview
1)Howmanybusesdoesthelocaltransportationcorporationown?
MyAnswer:Estimatewhatthelocalpopulationis(say100,000),andpercentagewho
interviewprocess interviewer
java lessonslearned management
woulduselocaltransportation(say75%).Fromthereestimatehowmanymajorroutesyou
have(routestosayfromcityAtocityB/downtown/mall/universities).Howmanybuseswill math microsoft mountainview nda
betravelingthoseroutes(takingintoaccountwhenthebusiesttimesareshouldhavethe opinion phoneinterview product
mostbusesoutandrememberthatsomeofthesebusesgobothwayse.gtravelfromcityA marketingmanager programming
tocityBandbacktocityA.)Takeintoaccounthowmanyyoucanfitintoabus,youcan puzzle questions resume san
estimatehowmanybusesalocaltransportationcorpcouldpotentiallyown. francisco secrets softwareengineer
sydney techleader technical thoughts
2)Howwouldyouhandlesomeonewhoisjustnotdoingthework,doesntgetalongwith tips video
anyone,andisgenerallynotworkingout?
MyAnswer:Responsetothisquestionreflectsontheindividualsmanagementand Authors
leadershipstyle.Butthecandidatebeinginterviewedshouldalsokeepinmindwhat
Admin(205)
companyorteampolicyiswhenaddressingtheaboveissue.

Archive
3)Howmanybottlesofshampooareproducedintheworldayear?
2003
MyAnswer:
March(1)
approximate30million=populationofCanada
2004
approximate6billion=WorldPopulation
October(1)
23%oftheworldspopulationis3rdworldpopulation
2005
2%oftheworldspopulationdontuseshampoob/ctheyarebaldorusesoap
January(1)
25%total
February(2)
March(1)
25%of30milliondontuseshampoo,usesoap,arebald,orcannotaffordtopurchase
May(1)
shampoo(thirdworld)(7.5million)=22.5million

intearview.com/post/2010/02/09/70AssociateProductManagerInterviewQuestions.aspx 1/7
11/8/12 Fresh Interview Stories | 70 Associate Product Manager Interview Questions

OnebottleofShampoolastsapproximately2months,givingus6bottlesayearper June(1)
person. August(1)
22.5million*6=133.1millionbottlesinCanada September(2)
6billion25%=4.5billion October(3)
4.5billion*6=27.0billionbottleperyear December(1)
2006
4)Youhave15horsesthatrunvariousspeeds.Youownaracetrackonwhichyoucan January(1)
racethehorses,andthistrackholdsamaximumof5horsesperrace.Ifyouhaveno March(1)
stopwatchorothermeansoftellingexactlyhowfastthehorsesare,howmanyraceswould June(2)
youneedtorunbetweenthehorsestobeABSOLUTELYSUREwhichhorsesarefirst, August(1)
second,andthirdfastest? September(1)
October(4)
MyAnswer November(1)
Race1:Horse1,2,3,4,5=>Assume1,2,3wininthatorder December(4)
Race2:Horse6,7,8,9,10=>Assume6,7,8wininthatorder 2007
Race3:Horse11,12,13,14,15=>Assume11,12,13wininthatorder January(2)
February(4)
Race4:Horse1,6,11(allfirstplacewinners)=>Assume1winsfirst(1isthefastest)for March(1)
thesakeofsimplicityand6and11came2ndand3rdplace April(1)
Race5:Horse6,11,2,7,3NoticeIdidnotchoosehorse12inthisracebecausewe May(4)
assumedfromRace4thathorse11cameinthirdplacesoitisofnovaluehavinghorse12 June(1)
intherace. July(1)
August(3)
TotalRace5 September(4)
1stPlaceisHorse1,2ndand3rdPlaceisfoundfromRace5 October(3)
November(1)
5)Followup,nowyouhave16horses.Howmanyraceswouldyouneedtoconducttofind December(1)
first,second,andthird? 2008
March(7)
MyAnswer May(1)
Firstthreeracesareidenticaltotheabovethreeraces June(2)
July(4)
Assumption1: August(7)
Race4:Horse16,1,6,11=>Assume16winsfirst,andHorse1and6camesecondand September(15)
third. October(11)
Race5:Horse1,6,2,7,3=>NoticeIdidnotchooseanyhorsesfromRace3results,thisis November(17)
becauseweknowthathorse11didnotcomeoutinthetop3inRace4. December(12)
2009
TotalRace5 January(1)
February(1)
Assumption2: March(4)
Race4:Horse16,1,6,11=>Assume1winsfirst,andHorse6and16camesecondand April(2)
third. May(1)
Race5:Horse6,16,2,7,3=>NoticeIdidnotchooseanyhorsesfromRace3results,this July(8)
isbecauseweknowthathorse11didnotcomeoutinthetop3inRace4. August(1)
September(8)
TotalRace5 October(2)
November(5)
6)Tellmeaboutyourself?Yep,theystillaskthisquestion December(3)
2010
7)HowwouldyouboosttheGMailsubscriptionbase? February(2)
April(3)
8)Whatisthemostefficientwaytosortamillionintegers? May(4)
July(1)
9)HowwouldyourepositionGooglesofferingstocounteractcompetitivethreatsfrom December(2)
Microsoft? 2011
January(3)
10)Youareshrunktotheheightofanickelandyourmassisproportionallyreducedsoas February(1)

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11/8/12 Fresh Interview Stories | 70 Associate Product Manager Interview Questions

tomaintainyouroriginaldensity. 2012
January(3)
11)Youarethenthrownintoanemptyglassblender.Thebladeswillstartmovingin60 February(4)
seconds.Whatdoyoudo? March(3)
May(4)
12)HowmuchshouldyouchargetowashallthewindowsinSeattle? June(3)
July(1)
13)Howwouldyoufindoutifamachinesstackgrowsupordowninmemory? October(1)

14)YouhavetogetfrompointAtopointB.Youdontknowifyoucangetthere.What Recentposts
wouldyoudo? Shareyourinterviewstoryandquestions
Comments:0
15)Howmanypianotunersarethereintheentireworld?
Mindboggling
Comments:0 Notratedyet
16)Youhaveeightballsallofthesamesize.7ofthemweighthesame,andoneofthem
weighsslightlymore.Howcanyoufindtheballthatisheavierbyusingabalanceandonly GooglevsMicrosoftinterviewexperience
twoweighings? Comments:0 Notratedyet

AshortinterviewwithGoogleemployees
Weighing1:weight3ballsoneachside.
Comments:0 Notratedyet
If(3ballsareequal)
Weighing2:weightthelast2balls.Theheavierisoneofthese. GoogleInterviewSetup

Else Comments:0 Notratedyet

Weighing2:weighttheheaviergroupfromthefirst,put1balloneachweighiftheyare
GoogleInterviewQuestion2012
thesame,theheavieroneistheoneyoudidntweighelsetheheavieronewillbe
Comments:0 Notratedyet
shown.
Twonumbersquestion

17)Youaregiven2eggs.Youhaveaccesstoa100storybuilding.Eggscanbeveryhard Comments:0 Notratedyet

orveryfragilemeansitmaybreakifdroppedfromthefirstfloorormaynotevenbreakif Intearview.com
droppedfrom100thfloor.Botheggsareidentical.Youneedtofigureoutthehighestfloor Comments:0 Notratedyet
ofa100storybuildinganeggcanbedroppedwithoutbreaking.Thequestionishowmany
dropsyouneedtomake.Youareallowedtobreak2eggsintheprocess. Fewnotesaboutbehaviorquestions
Comments:0 Notratedyet

18)Describeatechnicalproblemyouhadandhowyousolvedit. Task:Findmeetingpoint
Comments:7 Notratedyet
19)Howwouldyoudesignasimplesearchengine?
Recentcomments
20)DesignanevacuationplanforSanFrancisco. IndiaJobs:GoogleCompany(1)
MOHAMEDILIYASBAHARUDEEN.Jwrote:iwanta
21)TheresalatencyprobleminSouthAfrica.Diagnoseit. jobingoogle.[More]

22)WhatarethreelongtermchallengesfacingGoogle? Screeninginterview,mathquestions(6)
iQwrote:1.50702.7.5degrees3.271(30030+1,

23)WhatdoyouknowaboutGooglesproductandtechnology? inclusio[More]

Task:Findmeetingpoint(7)
24)IfyouareProductManagerforGooglesAdwords,howdoyouplantomarketthis? Vasylwrote:MistakeNotO(logn)butO(n)timewhere
nam[More]
25)WhatwouldyousayduringanAdWordsorAdSenseproductseminar?
Task:Findmeetingpoint(7)
Vasylwrote:Icametonextsolution:Splitto2similar
26)WhoareGooglescompetitors,andhowdoesGooglecompetewiththem?
tasks[More]

27)WhatsacreativewayofmarketingGooglesbrandnameandproduct? Task:Findmeetingpoint(7)
Tonywrote:@AdminIdontunderstandyouranswer.If
28)IfyouaretheproductmarketingmanagerforGooglesGmailproduct,howdoyouplan themeeti[More]
tomarketitsoastoachieve100millioncustomersin6months?
Geometricquestion(9)
Ruslanwrote:ThisisoneofdefinitionsofCatalan
29)HowmuchmoneyyouthinkGooglemakesdailyfromGmailads?
numbers.The[More]

30)Nameapieceoftechnologyyouvereadaboutrecently.Nowtellmeyourowncreative Task:Findmeetingpoint(7)

intearview.com/post/2010/02/09/70AssociateProductManagerInterviewQuestions.aspx 3/7
11/8/12 Fresh Interview Stories | 70 Associate Product Manager Interview Questions

executionforanadforthatproduct. asdfwrote:ItistheweightedaverageoftheX,Y
coordinates[More]
31)Sayanadvertisermakes$0.10everytimesomeoneclicksontheirad.Only20%of
Geometricquestion(9)
peoplewhovisitthesiteclickontheirad.Howmanypeopleneedtovisitthesiteforthe
sjrcelestiawrote:askausefulone...........[More]
advertisertomake$20?
Geometricquestion(9)

32)Estimatethenumberofstudentswhoarecollegeseniors,attendfouryearschools,and hadiwrote:Let'snamethepointsinorderbyPifori=1

graduatewithajobintheUnitedStateseveryyear. to2n[More]

Task:Findmeetingpoint(7)
33)IfyouweregiventhelandpricesintheBayArea,whatwouldyoupick,themeanorthe ToddSmithwrote:Makeafunctiontocalculatetotal
median?Why? costoftraveli[More]

34)EstimatetherevenueofvariousfreewebservicesfromGoogleandcompetitors. Disclaimer

35)Youareaparkinglotattendantinalotthathasoneopenspot,andyouwanttomove Theopinionsexpressedhereinaremyownpersonal

thecarsfromtheiroriginalpositionsintoanewarrangement.Createaprogramthatwill opinionsanddonotrepresentmyemployer'sviewin

printoutinstructionsonhowtomovethecarsmostefficiently anyway.

Copyright2012
36)WhatisGooglesprimarysourceofrevenue?
Adwords,Advertisement,TVAds

37)HowwillyoumakeGooglewinin(specificregionalzone)?

38)WhatwebsitedoyouvisitthemostandwhatwouldyoudoasPMforthatwebsite?

39)Airportsareinefficient.Whatwouldyoudotoimprovethem?

40)Itisdifficulttorememberwhatyouread,especiallyaftermanyyears.Contemplatehow
toaddressthis.

41)IfGoogleweretoofferaTVcommercialservice,howwouldyouimplementthis?

42)Whatisyourfavoritegoogleproductandwhatwouldyouchangeaboutit?

43)Howwouldyoudesigngooglemaps?

44)Whatgoogleproductdoyoulikethebestandhowwouldyouimproveit?

45)Whyisagooduserinterfacegoodforthecompany?

Gooduserinterfaceencouragethevisitortostaylongeronthepage,exploreotherpages,
clickonadvertisement,andretreiveandaccessinformationeasily.Companiescanbuild
theiridentitiesonagooduserinterfacesinceuserswillassociatethemwithit.AgoodUI
(e.g.GoogleSearchEngine)canbecometheirbrandandifitisdoneright,itsavesalotof
moneyinredoingitoradvertising.

46)Whatisthemarginalcostofagigabyteingmail?

47)Namethreewebsites(nonGooglesites)thatIvisitoftenandlike.CommentonwhatI
likeabouttheuserinterface/design.

48)Followupwiththeabove,chooseoneofthethreesitesandcommentonwhatnew
feature/projectIwouldworkonandhowIwoulddesignit.

49)Elevatordesignconcentrateonifthereisonlyoneelevatorinthebuilding(what
wouldIchangeinthedesign).Thenmoveduptohavingtwoelevatorsinabuilding..

50)HowmanyvacuumsaremadeperyearinUSA?
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11/8/12 Fresh Interview Stories | 70 Associate Product Manager Interview Questions

51)Ifyoulookataclockandthetimeis3:15,whatistheanglebetweenthehourandthe
minutehands?
Answer:7.5degrees(30degreesbetween3and4,30/4=7.5degrees)

52)Everymaninavillageof100marriedcoupleshascheatedonhiswife.Everywifein
thevillageinstantlyknowswhenamanotherthanherhusbandhascheated,butdoesnot
knowwhenherownhusbandhas.Thevillagehasalawthatdoesnotallowforadultery.
Anywifewhocanprovethatherhusbandisunfaithfulmustkillhimthatveryday.The
womenofthevillagewouldneverdisobeythislaw.Oneday,thequeenofthevillagevisits
andannouncesthatatleastonehusbandhasbeenunfaithful.Whathappens?
Answer:RecursionProblemIfthewomeninthevillageknowinstantlywhenothermenin
thevillagehavecheated,wecanusethistoouradvantageinansweringthequestion.If
onemanhascheatedontheirwife,thenhiswifewillknowhecheatssincenooneelseis
cheatingandwillthusmeethisdemise.Takeexampleiftwomencheats,oneofthewives
willknowonecheatinghusbandinthevillageandmustwaitonedaytoseeifshehearsof
anothermancheatingifnot,sheknowsherhusbandhascheatedandthereforekillshim.

53)Iftheprobabilityofobservingacarin30minutesonahighwayis0.95,whatisthe
probabilityofobservingacarin10minutes(assumingconstantdefaultprobability)?
Answer:P(30min)=0.95Pbar(30min)=0.05Pbar(10min)=(1/3)^(0.05)=0.368
P(10min)=1Pbar(10min)=0.6312=63.12%

54)Fourpeopleneedtocrossaricketyropebridgetogetbacktotheircampatnight
Unfortunately,theyonlyhaveoneflashlightanditonlyhasenoughlightleftforseventeen
minutes.Thebridgeistoodangeroustocrosswithoutaflashlight,anditsonlystrong
enoughtosupporttwopeopleatanygiventime.Eachofthecamperswalksatadifferent
speed.Onecancrossthebridgein1minute,anotherin2minutes,thethirdin5minutes,
andtheslowpoketakes10minutestocross.Howdothecampersmakeitacrossin17
minutes?
Answer:ClassicMicrosoftquestion.

TripA>BA<BTotalTime
Trip11min,2min2min
Trip21min3min
Trip35min,10min13min
Trip42min15min
Trip51min,2min17min

55)Youareatapartywithafriendand10peoplearepresentincludingyouandthe
friendYourfriendmakesyouawagerthatforeverypersonyoufindthathasthesame
birthdayasyou,youget$1foreverypersonhefindsthatdoesnothavethesamebirthday
asyou,hegets$2.wouldyouacceptthewager?
Answer:ProbabilityofsomeonesharingabirthdaywithyouisP(sharebday)=1/365
henceP(nosharebday)=364/365.Iwouldnttakethebet.

56)Imagineyouhaveaclosetfullofshirts.Itsveryhardtofindashirt.Sowhatcanyoudo
toorganizeyourshirtsforeasyretrieval?
Answer:AnyonewhoknowsmeknowsIhaveamildcaseofOCD.Iwouldhavemycloset
organized(installshelvingunits)andcompartmentalizesomesectionsvisually.Ihavea
sectionforshirtsIwouldwearoutandsectionforshirtsIwouldwearathome(wornout,
greatforspringcleaning).ThenineachsectionIwouldorganizetheshirtsbycolorfrom
whitetoblack.Arelativelysimplequestion,butIthinkGoogleasksthistocheckyour
organizationalskillsandforasoftwareengineergrouping(thinkhashtables)

57)Explainadatabaseinthreesentencestoyoureightyearoldnephew.
Answer:Therearemanyanswerstothisquestion.
1)Dictionaryislikeadatabase.Youhavewordandwhatthewordmeans.
intearview.com/post/2010/02/09/70AssociateProductManagerInterviewQuestions.aspx 5/7
11/8/12 Fresh Interview Stories | 70 Associate Product Manager Interview Questions

WhenIthinkofadatabase,Ithinkofafillingcabinetmyparentshavewhereeachhanging
foldercontainsinformation.Onefolderhasmygrades,anotherhasmybirthcertificateand
birthhair,anotherhassomepicturesofmeandmyartworkinelementaryetc.

58)HowwouldyourepositionGooglesofferingstocounteractcompetitivethreatsfrom
Microsoft?
Answer:MyfirstthoughtremovetheawfulwordworkaroundfromGoogleswork
practice.ThiswasmymosthatedtwowordsIheardfromthere.

59)Youhavefivepirates,rankedfrom5to1indescendingorder.Thetoppiratehasthe
righttoproposehow100goldcoinsshouldbedividedamongthem.Buttheothersgetto
voteonhisplan,andiffewerthanhalfagreewithhim,hegetskilled.Howshouldhe
allocatethegoldinordertomaximizehissharebutlivetoenjoyit?(Hint:Onepirateends
upwith98percentofthegold.)
Answer:
Ifyouhave2Piratesinvolved,onlyonepirateneedstosupportwithpirate2sdecision
(namelypirate2himself).Pirate2wouldbehighestinchainandhencecantakeall100
goldcoinssincehalfwouldagreewiththisdecision.
Ifyouhave3Piratesinvolved,pirate3needsonlyoneotherpiratetosupporthim.Pirate
3isawareofthe2piratescenarioifhediesandhenceofferspirate11pieceofgoldto
voteinhisfavor.Pirate1willtaketheofferbecause1pieceofgoldisbetterthannone.So
endresultisPirate1gets1pieceofgoldandPirate3takes99pieceofgold(leaving
Pirate2withnothing).
Ifyouhave4Piratesinvolved,youonlyneedoneotherpiratetosupportyou.Pirate4is
awareofthe3piratescenarioifhediesandhencecanofferpirate12piecesofgoldto
havehisvote,butpirate4isgreedy.Insteadheoffers1pieceofgoldtopirate2.This
giveshimthevotefromoneotherpirateheneedsforsupport.
Drawatableshowingthe24piratescenarios,andyouwillnoticeapattern.Fromthisyou
caneasilycomeupwithasolutionforthe5Piratescenarios.

12345
2100
3199
4199
51198
60)Howmanygolfballscanfitinaschoolbus?
Answer:Calculatesizeofbus(approxinfeet8lengthx6widthx20depth)=960sq.feet
(converttosqlinches*1728)=1,658,880golfballis2.5cubicinches(4/3*pi*0.85inches
radius)1,658,880/2.5=663,552dontfogetseatsandsuchsorounddowntosay500,000

GotanyGoogleInterviewQuestionsthatarenotlistedhere?Feelfreetoaddtheminthe
commentbox.

61)HowmanypeoplerunmarathoninUKeveryyear?

62)DescribetheoperationofLayer2(DataLinkLayer)ofthe7layerISOstackinasmuch
detailaspossible.

63)Howdoyoucodeintegerdivisionwithoutusingdivider(/)

intx=20inty=5

log(x)log(y)=log(answer)
10^(answer)=4=answer

64)WhatarethreethingsGoogleshouldknowbeforereleasingaproductinCountryXYZ?

65)Amanpushedhiscartoahotelandlosthisfortune.Whathappened?
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11/8/12 Fresh Interview Stories | 70 Associate Product Manager Interview Questions

66)Howwouldyoudetermineifsomeonehaswonagameoftictactoeonaboardofany
size?

67)HowmanyresumesdoesGooglereceiveeachyearforsoftwareengineering?

68)Howwouldyoudesigngooglemaps?

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