Expected Value Interview Questions for Quant Researchers
Quant Researchers get asked expected value differently from other quant roles - the emphasis shifts with what the job actually does. This is that slice.
114 questions, all free to practise. The split is 17 easy, 58 medium, 39 hard.
- A coin that branches into a dieEasyCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Color switches in a drawEasyRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- Expected flips after a losing startEasyProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Expected flips for three headsEasyProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Expected flips for two heads (not in a row)EasyProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- How many sixes on the die?EasyExpected ValueBrainteasersView →
- Keep it or draw againEasyProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Keep the d8 or gamble on the d12?EasyProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Paid a dollar or the drawEasyExpected ValueStatisticsView →
- Paid the last roll before you stopEasyProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Profit from a favourable stopping gameEasyExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Reflipping for valueEasyProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Retries under a hard capEasyExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Rolling a die to size the next dieEasyConditional Probability & ExpectationExpected ValueView →
- Rolling until you match the first rollEasyProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Rolls until an even sumEasyProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Weighting a fixed sumEasyConditional Probability & ExpectationExpected ValueView →
- A convexity gap by JensenMediumRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- Aces in a seven-card handMediumCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- All six faces (coupon collector)MediumRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- An ant returning to its cornerMediumExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Balancing six- and eight-sided diceMediumExpected ValueBrainteasersView →
- Boy–girl neighbors in a lineMediumCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Cash out or bustMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Dice game, up to three rollsMediumExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Dice payoff via WaldMediumExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Distinct birthdays representedMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Distinct faces in five rollsMediumCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Distinct faces in three rollsMediumExpected ValueView →
- Empty boxesMediumExpected ValueView →
- Expectation as a sum of tailsMediumRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- Expectation of e raised to a normalMediumRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- Expected absolute difference of two diceMediumExpected ValueView →
- Expected ascents in a shuffleMediumCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Expected duration of a fair gameMediumExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Expected fives before the first sixMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Expected flips for HHMediumRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- Expected flips for HHTMediumExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Expected flips for HTMediumExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Expected gap on 30-sided diceMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Expected maximum of three diceMediumRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- Expected maximum of two diceMediumRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- Expected median of three diceMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Expected minimum of two diceMediumRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- Expected rolls for two sixes in a rowMediumExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Expected sum given both evenMediumConditional Probability & ExpectationExpected ValueView →
- Expected sum of a random subsetMediumExpected ValueView →
- Expected value of the highest cardMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- First consecutive repeatMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- First to three of a kind in a rowMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Gap between two uniformsMediumExpected ValueStatisticsView →
- Heads given the ends differMediumConditional Probability & ExpectationExpected ValueView →
- Inversions in a shuffleMediumCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Is the random walk squared a martingale?MediumExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Law of total varianceMediumConditional Probability & ExpectationExpected ValueView →
- Letters into envelopesMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Memoryless waitingMediumConditional Probability & ExpectationRandom VariablesView →
- Number of runsMediumExpected ValueView →
- Paid only if the last roll winsMediumExpected ValueView →
- Position of the first aceMediumConditional Probability & ExpectationExpected ValueView →
- Position of the first spadeMediumCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Pricing a squared payoffMediumExpected ValueMarket Making & Betting GamesView →
- Ratio of partial sumsMediumRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- Red faces on a diced cubeMediumCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Renewal-reward fraction of time runningMediumExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Rolling a 5-sided die to reach fiveMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Rolling until two rolls differ by twoMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Rolls to a six before a fiveMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Rolls to see both a 1 and a 2MediumExpected ValueView →
- Rolls until a face repeatsMediumProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Sharpe ratio in a marble gameMediumExpected ValueStatisticsView →
- The German tank problemMediumExpected ValueStatisticsView →
- The St. Petersburg paradoxMediumExpected ValueMarket Making & Betting GamesView →
- The last lightbulb to burn outMediumRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- k-th order statisticMediumExpected ValueStatisticsView →
- Cars advancing to the endHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Connecting noodlesHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Cuts until one orb remainsHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Cycles in a shuffleHardCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Dealing until kings or a king-and-aceHardCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Deriving the first-price shading factorHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Distinct toys from seven boxesHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Draws to beat a hidden uniformHardRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- Draws to pass a log thresholdHardProbabilityRandom VariablesView →
- Draws to pass twoHardProbabilityRandom VariablesView →
- Draws until a smaller valueHardExpected ValueView →
- Drunk man on a bridgeHardExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Expected arc covering a fixed pointHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Expected chord between two random pointsHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Expected duration of a fair walkHardExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Expected flips for HHHHardExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Expected flips for HTHHardExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Expected largest of ten ballsHardCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Expected local maxima in a shuffleHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Expected revisits of the start stateHardExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Four heads in a rowHardExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Guessing cards from a known pileHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Long cycles in a random permutationHardCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Loops from tying noodlesHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Optional stopping between +3 and −5HardExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Overshoot past oneHardProbabilityRandom VariablesView →
- Pairs left in the drawerHardCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Reflecting wall first-passage timeHardExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Repainting balls to one colorHardExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
- Rolling until two rolls are closeHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Rolls to a six, given all evenHardConditional Probability & ExpectationExpected ValueView →
- Rounds to see all faces with two diceHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- Runs of red and blue marblesHardCombinatoricsExpected ValueView →
- Smallest card sharing a boxHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- The all-pay auctionHardProbabilityExpected ValueView →
- The decreasing run of uniformsHardRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- The two-envelopes paradoxHardProbabilityConditional Probability & ExpectationView →
- Uniforms summing past 1HardRandom VariablesExpected ValueView →
- World Series bettingHardExpected ValueStochastic ProcessesView →
Widen the search
This set is a slice of two larger ones. If it is too narrow, start here instead:
Practise these free
Create a free account to check your answers, track what you have solved, and run the timed simulators.