Problem explained in tomorrow's newsletter: www.veritasium.com/newsletter?utm_source=YT&utm_ca…
1 month ago | 242
The manager who wrote this question should be fired for not being able to properly communicate project scope, requirements and limitations
1 month ago | 19,000
I can safely drop an egg from any height, not sure how the egg will fare.
1 month ago | 16,000
Under implied circumstances, I don't need to drop any eggs to know that it won't survive a drop from any reasonable height.
1 month ago | 6,900
The IQ of the person who created this question is competing with his shoe size
1 month ago | 3,700
Zero. They'll break dropping them from the first floor, so there's no point in wasting the eggs. They'll be good for lunch.
1 month ago | 3,200
"Your project manager has no idea how to communicate project goals and objectives clearly. How many questions will you have to ask before you are able to understand what you're being asked to accomplish?"
1 month ago | 2,300
• The question is ambiguous. • It appears grounded in physical reality (“drop,” “egg,” “skyscraper”) — yet demands a math-logic abstraction without stating so. • It does not clarify key assumptions: • That there's a clean threshold floor • That eggs behave deterministically and identically • That some floors are “safe” • It penalizes real-world thinking — which is context-aware and realistic, not abstractly idealized. They think they’re testing: • Logical reasoning • Optimization under constraints • Problem-solving under pressure But in reality, they are often: • Rewarding familiarity with specific puzzle tropes • Punishing those who challenge assumptions • Filtering out creative or pragmatic thinkers who don't "play the game" the question could and should be reworded like this: "There is a theoretical building with 100 floors. You are given two identical magic eggs. These eggs will not break if dropped from floor ≤ F, but will always break from > F. Your task is to determine the value of F with the fewest number of drops. What is your optimal strategy?" Suddenly, the question is: • Honest • Clear • Internally consistent • Friendly to all disciplines — not just puzzle hobbyists Final Thoughts: This is my legitimate critique of flawed question design. In real-world interviews, such puzzles often: • Alienate qualified candidates from other fields (law, engineering, physics) • Prioritize pattern recognition over critical thinking • Mistake cleverness for clarity
1 month ago | 347
This is why I like working for myself. I don’t have to deal with dickheads asking stupid questions.
1 month ago | 1,300
"Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part"
1 month ago | 162
You can drop the egg on the 100th floor. But you don't need it to fall outside down 100 floors. just drop a inch above the carpet or whatever.
1 month ago | 493
Answering to the specifics of the question, it takes 0 drops. I can determine my safety on any floor in that skyscraper without dropping an egg.
1 month ago | 279
0 is an answer within the context on health and safety. Otherwise, define safely? And maybe some more clarification prior to answering.
1 month ago (edited) | 19
1 drop at floor 100. Ill be totally safe. The egg, however...... Define the scope and limitations or i WILL bend the rules
1 month ago | 294
This gives the vibe of one of those weird questions meant to test your reaction more than your actual answer.
1 month ago | 192
I liked the answers I saw once to a question of how one could determine the height of a building using a barometer. I can recall "tie a long string to it to create a pendulum, swing it from the top of the building, and calculate the height from the frequency of the oscillations", and "find the building superintendent, and tell them 'If you tell me the height of this building, I'll give you this fine barometer.'"
3 weeks ago | 0
This problem implies that there are certain floors that are unsafe. Violent even. 😂
1 month ago | 44
My answer would be one. Its asking for the minimum number of tests, and the eggs are identical. So the results of both drops are the same. So the scenario with the least amount of drops would be successfully dropping one egg from floor 100.
1 month ago | 1
I guess one may give many answers, 0, 1, 2, N, depending on what you understand. 0 if you use math, mechanics or a good trampoline. Even with the previous logic, you may need 1 to calculate the behaviour of the matarial / eggshell I'd say 2 is the minimum to be sure by just throwing them. You need one to drop by pure chance at the last floor it holds its integrity then try the next floor with the second to be sure. You have 2 chances among them all. As you may get it in the inverse order: You luckily get the floor in which they start breaking and then throw the second 1 floor below. You may say you need more than 2 and do the Professor Layton method, that is, to try dividing the groups in halves (+ or - 1) each time until you get it. I prefer the 2/3 method however, that is, to start on floors 33 or 67, and keep going with 2/3 (or 1/3). Its faster if you limit by logic, say, you assume it won't survive 10 floors. It may vary depending on the size of each floor too. These logic questions are awful and don't prove anything. You may as well say it's always the first floor if you throw it fast enough or the surface is spiky. Edit: You may play even more with it and say you can drop the egg in any floor, it's the same, you're not dropping it to the ground. Or you can drop it safely always. You're safe. Again, stupid Google questions you can play all day with without achieving anything I just realized he already uploaded the video 😂. I'm 2 days late, and I blame Y
1 month ago (edited) | 4
0. There seems to be enough data to simulate the situation no matter how the question is to be defined...
1 month ago | 1
Veritasium
Google used this to screen engineers. It looks simple, but it broke candidates.
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1 month ago | [YT] | 10,001