Introduction
Welcome to this segment of the blog specifically crafted for aspiring product managers eyeing success in FAANG interviews. A critical skill in product management interviews is the ability to answer questions with structured thinking and reasoning. In this post, we shall tackle a seemingly simple but complex question: “How many breaths do we perform each day?” While this might not be a traditional product management question, it showcases the need for analytical thinking—a skill highly valuable in the PM role.
Detailed Guide on Framework Application
Picking the Right Framework
For a question that requires estimation, the best-suited framework is the Fermi Estimation Technique, named after physicist Enrico Fermi. It involves breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable questions that can be estimated and then combining those estimates to get an overall answer.
Applying the Framework Step-by-Step
Let’s walk through the steps to estimate this physiological metric:
- Identify the Components: Determine what factors into the number of breaths taken, such as average breaths per minute, waking and sleeping hours.
- Gather Known Quantities: Use common knowledge and general facts to make reasonable assumptions. For instance, an average adult’s resting respiratory rate is about 12-20 breaths per minute.
- Make Educated Guesses: Solidify your assumptions for variables such as the number of hours for sleep and activity level differences.
- Execute Calculations: Multiply the estimations to lead to a daily total. Include a range to show you understand variability.
Working Through an Example
Hypothetically, let’s assume the average breath rate is 16 breaths per minute. If a person sleeps for 8 hours (480 minutes) at a slower rate, say 12 breaths per minute, and is awake for 16 hours (960 minutes) at 16 breaths per minute, their daily breath count can be estimated by:
Sleeping breaths: 12 breaths/minute * 480 minutes = 5760 breaths Awake breaths: 16 breaths/minute * 960 minutes = 15360 breaths Total daily breaths ≈ 5760 + 15360 = 21120 breaths
Fact Checks and Reasoning
Fact-check with health sources to ensure that the breath rate estimates are within a realistic range. Stress that these are approximations, and variability exists due to factors such as age, fitness level, and health conditions.
Communicating Effectively in an Interview
Keep your explanation clear and concise. Use simple multiplication and addition to demonstrate your process and always explain your assumptions. Emphasize that your estimation is just one method to approach the problem, showcasing flexibility in your problem-solving skills.
Conclusion
In conclusion, answering an estimation question like the daily breath count requires breaking the problem into parts and tackling each section methodically. By practicing the Fermi Estimation Technique and other frameworks provided in ‘Decode and Conquer: Answers to Product Management Interviews’, product management candidates can improve their analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities to succeed in FAANG interviews.