This can be answered in well under 30 seconds by a simple application of quadratics. 37^2 = (30 + 7)*(30 + 7) = 30^2 + 7^2 + (2*30*7) = 900 + 49 + 420 = 1369

There is a mathematical "shortcut" for squaring any two digit number that would probably be the easiest to use: 1) Square the individual digits and place the results next to each other: 3^2=9 and 7^2=49 => 949 2) Multiply the two digits, double the result, and add a zero: 3*7=21 2*21=42 10*42=420 3) Add the two numbers: 949+420=1,369

If the interview was for an accountant: "What do you want 37 times 37 to be?"

I thought the agreement was that there was to be no math in this interview.

Hold on let me check my iPhone calc app.

37 times 37 is 37 squared.

Question: " What is 37 times 37" Answer: A NUMBER

A multiplication problem.

Takes his cell phone out. Calculates the result. Shows it to the interviewer without saying a word. If they insist on calculating in your head or on paper, I'd say that it's too slow and I don't trust myself not to make an error when it comes to math. That's what computers are made for.

Unless you're a whizz at computing the squares of two-digit numbers in your head, it's always easier to round one of the numbers up to a multiple of ten and add a correction. For example, 37 * 37 = 34 * 40 + 3^2 You can do 34*40 in your head much more easily than 37*37!

Or use multiple down and crosswise 7 * 7 = 49 3 * 7 + 3 * 7 + 4 (from 49) = 46 3 * 3 = 9 + 4 = 13(from 46) 1369

37^2

But do you like to golf? (intervention: redirection)

There are devices that can easily perform this sort of calculation. They're called calculators. If weren't aware of this I don't think I want to work for you.

Me: Approximately 1360.

37*40 - 37*3 = 1460 - 111 = 1369

Anonymous, I guess you meant: 37*40 – 37*3 = 1480 – 111 = 1369

Jane Street Capital is a heavy quant firm. The point is that you are supposed to recognize 37 = (40-3) and immediately expand its square to 40^2 +3^2- 2*3*40 which is very fast to compute as 1600 + 9 - 240 = 1369 The point is whether you write down the expansion in less than 15 seconds and recognize that (40-3)^2 is easier to do by hand than (30+7)^2. People who are intrinsically comfortable with math do this .

I found it easy like this: 37 * 30 + 37*5 + 37*2 = 37*3*10 (1110) + 370/2 (185) + 74 = 1369

Use the trick for squaring numbers close to 50 37*37 = (25-13)*100 + 13^3 = 1200+169 Notice if you write (50-13)(50-13) = 2500 - 100*13 + 13^2

Simple, 40 x 40 = 1600 ( easy to calculate on yr mind), 40- 37= 3, there are two 37's, means 2 x 3= 6, 6 x 40 = 240, so answer is 1600 - 240 = 1360 approximate.

I always find adding numbers easier than subtracting them. So instead of (40-3)(40-3), I would prefer (30+7)(30+7) = 900 + 49 + 420 = 1369

37373737373737373737373737373737373737373737373737373737373737373737373737