Aptitude Testing Questions

Forums › Off topic › Aptitude Testing Questions

firefuze

510 posts

Ultimate Geek

#285824 19-May-2021 22:19

A couple questions from a recent (practice) aptitude test have me a little stumbled and I'm not able to come to a confident conclusion on which is the correct answer, you don't get told the answers or which questions you got wrong at the end of the test which is a little frustrating.

So which do you think are the correct answers? If you could please provide a brief explanation to accompany your answer.

I might be just overthinking the questions, questioning my own logic!

I went with: D, B, C for reference

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

meow
13240 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2709896 19-May-2021 23:44

I would do:

1) A - this is the point of the balloon where the material is under the most pressure and therefore will rip with less pressure from the pin. D is also acceptable as it is "easier" to pop a balloon this way as popping a balloon requires little effort regardless.
2) A or C (as actual height of the slide isn't known) - it is specified speed, not distance.
3) I'd go with C also as it should allow for the wind to go over the paper instead of under it.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

jonherries

1395 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#2709953 20-May-2021 07:00

1. C - we know from eggs that the sharper a curve is the more structurally sound it is, therefore harder to pop.If you assume the needle is at it’s starting point, moving and angling it to pierce the balloon will use more enrgy than just a straight line.
2. A - isnt speed at the end of the slide just max speed, so assume steeper would get evened out further down.
3. C - for same reason as above

Dingbatt

6754 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2709960 20-May-2021 07:46

I would suggest that the first two questions don’t provide enough information.

1. What do they mean by “effort”. Do they mean force? If so, then where the balloon is stretched most (C), although it is difficult to be sure without info on the elastic properties of the balloon material (is it homogeneous?). If the balloon contains a gas that is lighter than its surrounding atmosphere then D may require less vertical force than A or B.
C is closest to the balloon’s surface, so if the penetration force is considered negligible, then it requires the least “effort” to move it to the balloon’s surface.

2. Once again, not enough information. Is there any friction between the figure and the slide? Is the coefficient of friction constant for the surface area of the figure? Is the figure flexible? What medium is the figure moving through? Without further info, the exchange of potential energy for kinetic energy would mean both are equal.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2709961 20-May-2021 07:46

jonherries: 1. C - we know from eggs that the sharper a curve is the more structurally sound it is, therefore harder to pop.If you assume the needle is at it’s starting point, moving and angling it to pierce the balloon will use more enrgy than just a straight line.
2. A - isnt speed at the end of the slide just max speed, so assume steeper would get evened out further down.
3. C - for same reason as above

I agree with you.
1.C the balloon is most stretched out at C, so therefore thinner there than the other places. But the balloon is able to move more laterally at C than the other points, so is it easier? The question needs some clarification, but I’ll still go with C on the assumption they are after the weakest point in the balloon.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2709968 20-May-2021 08:23

firefuze:

So which do you think are the correct answers? If you could please provide a brief explanation to accompany your answer.

There aren't any "correct" answers. It's an aptitude test - not a test of knowledge or skills.

If you put too much time into answering questions with no answer, you're probably a time-waster.

If you skip the stupid questions then that may be the correct answer - if they're looking for someone who can be decisive and not distracted by trivia.

Depends what "aptitude" they're seeking...

Of course it's probably mainly meaningless, useless, over-analysed, and unfit for purpose, but that pretty much applies to the whole "science" of psychometrics. It's main function seems to be to keep people who did psych degrees but didn't make the cut as clinical psychologists employed. Most of them should know it's BS too.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18657 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2710034 20-May-2021 10:16

My answers would be A for the first one, because the balloon is easiest to puncture where the pressure pushing against it is least. Position 1 and slide B for the second, because lying down distributes the weight more evenly and the steeper drop on slide A kills momentum. For the third I would also place the weight at C, for the reasons already mentioned.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Senecio

2710 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2710036 20-May-2021 10:27

My answers for what they're worth

Q1 - C. The amount of effort required to puncture a balloon is so small that it is negligible therefore the least amount of overall effort is the point closest to where the pin currently lays

Q2 - C. The seated position will generate less friction than the laying. This may be overcome by wind resistance but wind resistance only overcomes friction once you start to approach terminal velocity. An the steeper ramp will generate the greatest speed under any situation

Q3 - C. This just appears to obvious. Perhaps too obvious?

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2710043 20-May-2021 10:44

Rikkitic:

My answers would be A for the first one, because the balloon is easiest to puncture where the pressure pushing against it is least.

What if the pressure was exactly the same everywhere inside the balloon?

duckDecoy

896 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

#2710059 20-May-2021 11:03

Senecio:

Q2 - C. The seated position will generate less friction than the laying. This may be overcome by wind resistance but wind resistance only overcomes friction once you start to approach terminal velocity. An the steeper ramp will generate the greatest speed under any situation

I disagree. On all hydroslides I have been on you go much slower if sitting, and much faster if you lie down. I think your weight is distributed across a wider area which reduces friction.

This vid shows that the steeper ramp gets the ball (or person in this case) to a higher velocity faster so it reaches the end first. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moWpdcPCg-4

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2710061 20-May-2021 11:08

There's going to be difference in COF between what you're wearing for pants and top. If they said "when you're wearing a pink bunny onesie" it might have made things easier - but still no obvious correct answer.

tripper1000

1617 posts

Uber Geek

#2710063 20-May-2021 11:13

Fred99:

Rikkitic: My answers would be A for the first one, because the balloon is easiest to puncture where the pressure pushing against it is least.

What if the pressure was exactly the same everywhere inside the balloon?

I think he means tension not pressure, and the answer is the opposite. Anyone who has popped a ballon knows the weakest area is around the widest point where the tension is highest. You can often poke holes in point A and it won't pop, so it is the hardest place.

Question 2 is slide A (it's the fastest slide becue is it closest to a verticle drop which is the fastest possible speed ever) but I think the position is negible. Slides seem to go faster when laying down so I'll say answer a).

1C/D

An apptitude test is different to an IQ test. This seems to be a physics/mechanical appitiude test and is intentionally ambiguous to non physics people. The target audience won't get fooled. It may also have control questions to intentionally trip up the target audience or detect cheats.

floydbloke

3522 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2710064 20-May-2021 11:14

duckDecoy:

...

This vid shows that the steeper ramp gets the ball (or person in this case) to a higher velocity faster so it reaches the end first. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moWpdcPCg-4

My non-scientific view (based on observation of the graphics) of this is that if you tried position 2 on slide 1 you'd tip forward and land on your noggin...and never reach the end.

Similarly, postion2 on slide 2 would create a rapid descent until you hit the bottom, because of the sharper angle you'd flip forward and bust your snozzer.

My answer would be B.

Did Eric Clapton really think she looked wonderful...or was it after the 15th outfit she tried on and he just wanted to get to the party and get a drink?

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2710069 20-May-2021 11:34

floydbloke:

My non-scientific view (based on observation of the graphics) of this is that if you tried position 2 on slide 1 you'd tip forward and land on your noggin...and never reach the end.

Similarly, postion2 on slide 2 would create a rapid descent until you hit the bottom, because of the sharper angle you'd flip forward and bust your snozzer.

My answer would be B.

If you interpret the drawing as having the same scale for the person as the slide (there's no clue to think otherwise , as the scale of slide is only indicated as "units") , then in position 1 your starting position would be either balanced on the apex until your spine broke, precariously perched to fall backwards and break your neck, or have a start position where you're standing on the bottom of the slope and going nowhere at all in a hurry, unless there was slippery dog poop on your shoes.

frankv

5680 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2710120 20-May-2021 11:43

My guess is the test is trying to pick out those who over-think. :) I'm wondering what jib this is testing aptitude for.

1. Between C & D, because it's perpendicular to the needle. If I have to choose, then C.

2. Slide A, position 2 for maximum acceleration and minimum friction.

3. C

frankv

5680 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2710121 20-May-2021 11:48

Fred99:

Rikkitic:

My answers would be A for the first one, because the balloon is easiest to puncture where the pressure pushing against it is least.

What if the pressure was exactly the same everywhere inside the balloon?

Pressure *is* the same everywhere inside the balloon. The tension on the skin of the balloon varies, as already pointed out, with the curvature of the surface.

Nerdy fact: inflating a balloon decreases the pressure inside it.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4