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Op doesn't have time for interviews (lemmy.ml)

submitted 6 days ago by danhab99@programming.dev to c/programmerhumor@lemmy.ml

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Post:

You have three switches in one room and a single light bulb in another room. You are allowed to visit the room with the light bulb only once. How do you figure out which switch controls the bulb? Write your answer in the comments before looking at other answers.

Comment:

If this were an interview question, the correct response would be "Do you have any relevant questions for me? Because have a long list of things that more deserving of my precious time than to think about this!

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[-] mech@feddit.org 107 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Use the heat of the bulb to determine if it was on. (Shows you can memorize stupid interview questions)
Ask a team member to coordinate with you in the other room. (You're a team player)
Use a cable locator (Proper tool for the trade)
Put your phone in the other room, stream camera feed to your work laptop (The tech approach)
Unscrew the bulb. Now you know that no switch controls the bulb (Exposing the flaw in the task's phrasing)
Open switch panel and disconnect one switch. Wait a day. If no one complains, disconnect the second. Wait a day. If no one complains, it's probably the third. For good measure, disconnect the third switch. If still no one complains, remove all switches and the lightbulb, since they're not needed anymore. (The Sysadmin approach)

[-] chenyun_fan1905@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 days ago

I think if its LED then the heat of the bulb strategy won't work.

[-] varyingExpertise@feddit.org 3 points 6 days ago

Give it few minutes, they get warm as well.

[-] Tiger666@lemmy.ca 1 points 5 days ago

LED lights get hot. So hot their plastic frames melt slightly sometimes.

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this post was submitted on 25 Dec 2025

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