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Zoox·Data Scientist·Technical Phone Screen·Senior

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Apr 2026

Summary

Zoox data scientist interview with a rapid-fire brainteaser round covering estimation, probability, geometry, and a classic physics puzzle. The pace was relentless and the questions jumped around a lot, but the interviewers seemed more interested in how you think than whether you land the exact number.

Questions Asked (7)

Q1

A floor is 15 ft by 20 ft and you're covering it with square tiles that each have an area of 1 square yard. About how many tiles do you need?

Algorithms & Data StructuresTechnical Trade-offs
Author's notes

Units trip you up here if you're not careful.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

First, convert the floor dimensions to yards to match the tile units, then compute the area and divide by the tile area. Since the question asks 'about how many', round to a reasonable number and mention that exact tiling may require cutting tiles, so you might need slightly more.

Pro tip: Show that you consider real-world constraints like tile cutting and waste, and relate it to data science by discussing how assumptions affect estimates and the importance of unit consistency.

1. Clarify units and assumptions

Confirm that the floor dimensions are in feet and tile area is in square yards. State that you'll convert to a common unit, such as yards, to avoid errors.

2. Convert dimensions to yards

Convert 15 ft to 5 yards and 20 ft to approximately 6.67 yards (or keep as fractions: 20/3 yards).

3. Calculate floor area

Multiply the dimensions in yards: 5 yd × (20/3) yd = 100/3 ≈ 33.33 square yards.

4. Determine number of tiles

Divide the floor area by the tile area (1 sq yd): 33.33 tiles. Since tiles are whole, round up to 34 tiles for full coverage.

5. Address 'about' and practical considerations

Acknowledge that the question asks for an approximate number, so 33 or 34 is acceptable. Mention that in practice, you might need extra tiles for cutting and waste, so ordering 35-40 tiles would be safer.

Key Points to Mention

  • Unit conversion: 1 yard = 3 feet, so convert feet to yards before calculating area.
  • Area calculation: length × width in consistent units.
  • Division by tile area: number of tiles = floor area / tile area.
  • Rounding up: since you can't use a fraction of a tile, round up to the next whole number.
  • Practical considerations: cutting tiles, waste, and the word 'about' in the question.
  • Data science relevance: unit consistency, estimation, and handling assumptions in problem-solving.

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.

Q2

An account starts with $1,000 and doubles every year. How much is in it after 20 years?

Product Analytics & Metrics
Author's notes

Pretty mechanical once you remember 2^10 is about 1000.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

First, clarify whether the doubling is simple or compound and whether the time frame is exact. Then, recognize that doubling annually for 20 years is equivalent to multiplying by 2^20, and compute the result using mental math or estimation. Finally, present the answer with appropriate context, such as the power of exponential growth and any assumptions made.

Pro tip: Demonstrate strong mental math by breaking down 2^20 into (2^10)^2 = 1024^2 ≈ 1,048,576, and mention that this is about $1.05 billion. This shows both precision and speed, which are valued in data science roles.

1. Clarify the problem

Ask if the doubling is simple or compound, and confirm the time period (e.g., exactly 20 years). This ensures you understand the assumptions before calculating.

2. Identify the mathematical model

Recognize that doubling annually means the amount multiplies by 2 each year, so after n years the amount is initial * 2^n. Here, initial = $1,000 and n = 20.

3. Compute or estimate the result

Calculate 2^20. Use known powers: 2^10 = 1024, so 2^20 = 1024^2 = 1,048,576. Multiply by $1,000 to get $1,048,576,000, or about $1.05 billion.

4. Interpret and contextualize

Explain that this illustrates exponential growth and is unrealistic for most investments, but demonstrates the power of compounding. Mention that if doubling were simple (adding $1,000 each year), the result would be $21,000.

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.

Q3

Using back-of-the-envelope reasoning, estimate the distance from Earth to the Moon. State your assumptions.

Algorithms & Data StructuresTechnical Trade-offs
Author's notes

This one I actually liked.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clearly stating that you'll use a physics-based approach, then break the problem into smaller, estimable quantities. Use known constants like Earth's radius and gravitational acceleration, and apply Newton's law of gravitation and centripetal force to derive the distance. Alternatively, use the fact that the Moon's orbital period is about 27.3 days and the speed of light delay for communication, but the physics approach is more robust.

Pro tip: Show your reasoning step-by-step and sanity-check your final answer against known facts (e.g., the Moon is about 30 Earth diameters away). This demonstrates structured thinking and numerical intuition, which are crucial for data science roles.

1. Clarify the goal and state assumptions

Restate the question to ensure understanding and list key assumptions, such as a circular orbit, known values for Earth's radius and gravitational constant, and ignoring other celestial bodies.

2. Identify relevant physics principles

Recognize that the Moon's orbital motion is governed by the balance between gravitational force and centripetal force. Write down the equations: F_gravity = G * M_earth * M_moon / r^2 and F_centripetal = M_moon * v^2 / r.

3. Relate orbital period to velocity

Express the orbital velocity v in terms of the orbital period T and radius r: v = 2πr / T. Substitute this into the centripetal force equation and equate to gravitational force to solve for r.

4. Plug in estimated values and compute

Use approximate values: G ≈ 6.67e-11 N m²/kg², M_earth ≈ 6e24 kg, T ≈ 27.3 days ≈ 2.36e6 seconds. Solve for r and compute the numerical result.

5. Sanity-check and refine

Compare the result to known facts (e.g., the Moon is about 384,400 km away). If off by an order of magnitude, check for unit errors or incorrect assumptions.

Key Points to Mention

  • Use of Newton's law of universal gravitation and centripetal force.
  • Assumption of circular orbit and known orbital period of the Moon (27.3 days).
  • Estimation of Earth's mass from surface gravity and radius (g = GM/R²).
  • Unit consistency and conversion (e.g., days to seconds).
  • Sanity check against known distance (about 30 Earth diameters).
  • Acknowledgment of simplifications (e.g., ignoring eccentricity, other forces).

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.

Q4

A boat floats in a lake with stones in it. You throw the stones overboard into the lake. Does the water level rise, fall, or stay the same?

Technical Trade-offsRoot Cause Analysis
Author's notes

Falls.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

First, clarify that the question is a classic physics puzzle testing Archimedes' principle and buoyancy. Then, reason through the two states: before throwing, the stones displace water equal to their weight; after throwing, they displace water equal to their volume. Conclude that the water level falls because stones are denser than water.

Pro tip: Explicitly state your assumptions (e.g., stones sink, no water splashes out) and connect the reasoning to data science concepts like model assumptions and sensitivity analysis to demonstrate transferable thinking.

1. Clarify the scenario

Restate the problem and confirm assumptions: stones are denser than water, they sink, and the boat remains floating. This shows attention to detail and avoids ambiguity.

2. Apply Archimedes' principle to the initial state

Explain that while stones are in the boat, they displace water equal to their total weight (boat + stones). The displaced volume is (mass of boat + stones) / water density.

3. Analyze the final state after throwing stones

After throwing, the boat displaces water equal to its own weight, and each stone displaces water equal to its volume. Total displaced volume is (mass of boat)/water density + (volume of stones).

4. Compare displaced volumes

Since stones are denser than water, the volume of water displaced by their weight (initial) is greater than the volume displaced by their physical volume (final). Thus, total displaced volume decreases.

5. Conclude and generalize

State that the water level falls. Optionally, discuss edge cases (e.g., if stones float, level stays same) and relate to data science problem-solving.

Key Points to Mention

  • Archimedes' principle: buoyant force equals weight of displaced fluid.
  • Initial displacement: weight of boat + stones.
  • Final displacement: weight of boat + volume of stones.
  • Density comparison: stones denser than water, so weight-based displacement > volume-based displacement.
  • Water level falls.
  • Assumptions and edge cases (e.g., stones sinking, no water loss).

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.

Q5

Each of two boxes contains cards labeled 1, 2, and 3. You draw one card from each box at random. What's the probability that the product of the two cards is even?

A/B Testing & ExperimentationAlgorithms & Data Structures
Author's notes

Use the complement.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

First, clarify that the draws are independent and each box is uniform over {1,2,3}. Then compute the probability that the product is even by finding the complement (product odd) or by counting favorable outcomes, and present the final probability clearly.

Pro tip: After solving, briefly mention how you would verify the result with a quick simulation or by extending to a general case, showing that you think about scalability and validation—key for data science roles.

1. Clarify assumptions

Confirm that each box is equally likely to yield 1, 2, or 3, and that the draws are independent. State that the sample space has 9 equally likely outcomes.

2. Define the event

The product is even if at least one card is even. The only even card is 2, so the product is odd only if both cards are odd (1 or 3).

3. Compute complement probability

Probability both cards are odd = (2/3) * (2/3) = 4/9. Therefore, probability product is even = 1 - 4/9 = 5/9.

4. Verify by enumeration

List all 9 outcomes: (1,1),(1,2),(1,3),(2,1),(2,2),(2,3),(3,1),(3,2),(3,3). Count those with even product: 5 outcomes, confirming 5/9.

5. Present answer and extension

State the final probability as 5/9. Optionally, mention how the result generalizes if the boxes have different numbers or probabilities.

Key Points to Mention

  • Independence of draws
  • Uniform distribution over {1,2,3}
  • Complement rule (product odd iff both cards odd)
  • Multiplication rule for independent events
  • Enumeration of sample space (9 outcomes)
  • Generalization to larger sets or different probabilities

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.

Q6

Roughly how many uncompressed 1080p movies fit on a 2 TB hard drive? State your assumptions about frame rate, color depth, movie length, and how you define TB.

System DesignTechnical Trade-offsData Modeling
Author's notes

This is a big multiplication chain and it's easy to lose a factor of 10 somewhere.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clearly stating your assumptions about frame rate, color depth, movie length, and TB definition, then calculate the file size per movie and divide the drive capacity by that size. Use round numbers to simplify the math and focus on the order of magnitude. Finally, present a range or a single estimate with a caveat about compression and audio.

Pro tip: Mention that real-world movies are compressed, so this is a theoretical maximum; also note that audio tracks add ~10% overhead, and that using 1000 vs 1024 for TB changes the result by ~7%.

1. State assumptions

Explicitly define frame rate (e.g., 24 fps), color depth (e.g., 24 bits per pixel), movie length (e.g., 2 hours), and TB definition (e.g., 1 TB = 10^12 bytes).

2. Calculate pixels per frame

Compute the number of pixels per frame: 1920 x 1080 = 2,073,600 pixels.

3. Calculate bits per frame and per second

Multiply pixels by color depth (24 bits) to get bits per frame, then multiply by frame rate to get bits per second.

4. Calculate total bits per movie

Multiply bits per second by movie length in seconds (e.g., 7200 seconds for 2 hours) to get total bits per movie, then convert to bytes.

5. Divide drive capacity by movie size

Convert 2 TB to bytes using your chosen definition, then divide by the movie size in bytes to get the number of movies.

Key Points to Mention

  • Frame rate assumption (e.g., 24 fps for film, 30 fps for video)
  • Color depth (e.g., 24-bit RGB, 8 bits per channel)
  • Movie length (e.g., 2 hours = 7200 seconds)
  • TB definition (1 TB = 10^12 bytes vs 2^40 bytes)
  • Audio overhead (adds ~10% to file size)
  • Compression (real movies are compressed, so this is a theoretical maximum)

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.

Q7

Three squares are nested concentrically, with each inner square formed by connecting the midpoints of the sides of the one around it. If the innermost square has area A, what is the area of the outermost square?

Algorithms & Data StructuresTechnical Trade-offs
Author's notes

Each midpoint step halves the area, so going inward twice multiplies by 1/4.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

First, recognize that each nesting step halves the area of the square. Then, since there are three squares, the outermost area is A multiplied by 2^(3-1) = 4A. Explain the geometric reasoning clearly and connect it to algorithmic scaling.

Pro tip: After solving, mention that this geometric series (area doubling each step outward) is analogous to analyzing time complexity in recursive algorithms, showing you can bridge mathematical puzzles to data science concepts.

1. Understand the nesting process

Visualize or sketch three concentric squares where each inner square is formed by connecting the midpoints of the outer square's sides.

2. Determine the area ratio per step

Show that the inner square's area is half the outer square's area. This can be proven by dividing the outer square into four congruent triangles and a central square, or by using the Pythagorean theorem.

3. Apply the ratio across three squares

Since there are three squares, the outermost area is A multiplied by 2^(3-1) = 4A. Alternatively, work from outermost to innermost: each step halves the area, so after two halvings (from outermost to innermost), the innermost area is (1/4) of the outermost, hence outermost = 4A.

4. Verify with a concrete example

If the innermost area is 1, then the middle square has area 2, and the outermost has area 4. This confirms the factor of 4.

5. Connect to data science context

Relate the geometric progression to algorithmic scaling (e.g., recursion depth, divide-and-conquer) or data partitioning, highlighting your ability to abstract and apply mathematical reasoning.

Key Points to Mention

  • The area of each inner square is exactly half the area of the square immediately outside it.
  • The relationship can be derived using the Pythagorean theorem or by decomposing the outer square into four triangles and a central square.
  • For three squares, the area scales by a factor of 2^(number of steps) = 2^2 = 4 from innermost to outermost.
  • The problem illustrates a geometric progression with ratio 1/2 (or 2 when going outward).
  • This type of scaling appears in algorithm analysis, such as in the master theorem for divide-and-conquer recurrences.
  • Communicating the reasoning step-by-step is as important as the final answer, especially in technical interviews.

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.