LinkedIn interview question

You’re in a room with three light switches, each of which controls one of three light bulbs in the next room. Your task is to determine which switch controls which bulb. All lights are initially off, and you can't see into one room from the other. You may inspect the room only once. How can you determine which switch is connected to which light bulb?

Interview Answers

Anonymous

7 Jan 2012

Call the switches 1, 2 and 3. Leave Switch 1 off. Turn Switch 2 on for five minutes and then turn it off. Turn Switch 3 on. Enter the room. If a bulb is on, it's controlled by Switch 3. Feel the light bulbs for heat. The warm bulb is controlled by Switch 2. The bulb that is off and cold is controlled by Switch 1.

53

Anonymous

22 Nov 2012

1

2

Anonymous

22 Nov 2012

4way

Anonymous

20 Mar 2015

Break through the wall and physically trace the circuits up the wall, through the ceiling, and up to the dividing wall. Resume with tracing to the lights when you enter the lightbulb room.

4