Blanked for a second because I kept second-guessing my assumptions about average age ranges and how wedding attendance clusters in your 20s and 30s.
Break the problem into life stages (e.g., 0-18, 18-30, 30-50, 50+) and estimate the number of weddings attended per year in each stage, then sum over an assumed lifespan. Use round numbers and state assumptions clearly, focusing on logical structure over precise accuracy.
Pro tip: Explicitly state that you're optimizing for a defensible order of magnitude, not precision, and invite the interviewer to adjust any assumption—this shows you value collaboration and adaptability.
Confirm what 'average American' means (e.g., including all demographics) and whether weddings include multiple ceremonies per couple. Assume a lifespan of 80 years and that we're counting weddings as events attended, not unique couples.
Divide life into stages with distinct wedding attendance patterns: childhood (0-18), young adulthood (18-30), middle adulthood (30-50), and older adulthood (50-80). This makes estimation manageable.
For each stage, estimate the number of weddings attended per year based on typical social circles and life events. For example, childhood: 0-1 per year (family weddings); young adulthood: 2-3 per year (friends' weddings peak); middle adulthood: 1 per year (fewer friends, more family); older adulthood: 0.5 per year (declining).
Multiply the per-year estimate by the number of years in each stage, then sum across stages. For example: childhood (18 years * 0.5 = 9), young adulthood (12 * 2.5 = 30), middle adulthood (20 * 1 = 20), older adulthood (30 * 0.5 = 15) → total ~74.
Compare the total to intuitive benchmarks (e.g., average person has ~10 close friends who marry, plus family) and adjust if necessary. State that the answer is an estimate and highlight key uncertainties.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.