Here's a logical reasoning question: If it takes 5 minutes to boil one egg, how long does it take to boil 10 eggs? Assume you have a large enough pot and can boil all eggs simultaneously.
RoleManagement Trainee
DifficultyEasy
TopicTechnical
Asked at
Why This Is Asked
GCash may use such puzzles to evaluate logical reasoning, attention to detail, and ability to avoid cognitive traps, which are valuable for data analysis and product decision-making.
General Approach
Walk through your thought process aloud, even if the answer seems obvious. Clarify assumptions, rule out distractions, and apply basic logic. This demonstrates structured thinking, which is key in fintech roles.
General Answer
The correct answer is that it still takes 5 minutes, not 50 minutes. The question explicitly states there is a large enough pot to boil all 10 eggs simultaneously, so the total time is determined by how long it takes one egg to cook, 5 minutes, not by how many eggs are in the pot at once. Boiling time depends on factors like egg size, starting water temperature, and altitude, but not on the number of eggs cooking in parallel, since each egg is independently exposed to the same boiling water for the same duration. This is a classic anchoring trap: because the setup mentions '1 egg equals 5 minutes' first, it's tempting to multiply 5 minutes by 10 and answer 50 minutes, but the question has already removed that constraint by specifying the eggs boil simultaneously, not sequentially. Explicitly naming the trap out loud when answering, rather than just stating '5 minutes,' is what actually demonstrates the structured, trap-avoiding reasoning this kind of question is designed to test.
PH Interview Gotcha
Rushing to '50 minutes' without thought shows carelessness. Don't apologize for taking an extra moment to think; interviewers value careful reasoning over speed. Avoid 'Ay, sorry po, mali ba?' after an initial wrong instinct.
Sample STAR Answer▾
S
Situation
During the online assessment for the ASPIRE program, I encountered this seemingly simple question. My instinct was to quickly multiply 5 by 10, but I caught myself.
T
Task
I needed to apply logical reasoning, not arithmetic, to determine the correct answer, recognizing that time in boiling depends on the water, not the number of eggs if they cook together.
A
Action
I visualized the scenario: placing all 10 eggs in a large pot of boiling water. The water's temperature and heat transfer determine cooking time, not the egg count. Since they all start and finish at the same time, it still takes 5 minutes. I mentally checked for any constraints like pot size (stated as large enough) or egg size (not mentioned), and concluded the answer is 5 minutes.
R
Result
I confidently selected 5 minutes and moved on. Later, reviewing common assessment pitfalls, I confirmed this was correct. This exercise reinforced the importance of pausing to question assumptions.
Key Takeaway
Surface-level assumptions can lead to errors. Always clarify the process and constraints before answering, even in simple problems.
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