That's not why manhole covers can't fall into the holes they cover. I think a better answer would be that manhole covers are round because manhole entrances are round.

Then you could claim that manhole entrances are round for reasons having to do with maximizing area and minimizing circumference, and really blow their minds.

i somehow always do well in interviews but i'm not exactly sure if there's like conscious choices i make that come across well. i guess i would say - lean forward, keep hands clasped together (don't go waving them around all over), listen well, nod a lot to show you're listening, don't be wordy (keep answers under 2 min or so), don't be too comfortable/familiar, look 'em in the eyes, and prove that you already know a lot about the company.

If you're interviewing at anyplace slightly hip or laid-back, you might also consider what your superhero power might be. I got asked that on a recent application and I silently thanked my geek friends for the 37 conversations we had had about that subject.

Good luck to you! Rock their socks and all that.

Ben, I like your answer, although I think it might work better in the philosophy industry than in my own. But don't worry -- I've already got a long-winded and nerdy manhole cover answer prepared that points out the stupidity of the question for a theoretical geometrically perfect cover, and counterargues for properly bevelled square manhole covers. The square root of two is featured prominently. Perhaps someday (almost certainly not today) I'll actually get to use it.

I appreciate the body language tips. Leaning forward and clasping my hands is what I'm prone to do anyway, so I had assumed it was wrong.

As for the superpower... well, hell, now I'm worried. There are too many to choose from! I guess super-speed is the right answer, huh? Or maybe telepathy...

Good luck.

Check your fly beforehand.

I just did a round of interviews from the other side of the desk and I know you're better than any of the candidates I saw. A developer with talent, communication skills, and no obvious personality disorders? You should do great.

when they ask the inevitable "where do you see yourself in five years?," consider carefully before guffawing and then answering "on a beach, drawing caricatures or something. But definately NOT working for the government."

Just trust me on that.

also, if they make you write something, make sure you spell everything correctly. Like "definitely."

I'd be interested in hearing about this. One definite advantage of the round manhole cover is that the bevel (which is of course the real reason it doesn't fall through) doesn't have to be very wide at all. But a square manhole cover would have to have a lip approximately 21% wider than the entrance it covers, wouldn't it?. That just seems inefficient, and would lead to heaviness, cumbersomnolence, etc. What's the advantage?

(Actually I guess the lip wouldn't need to go all the way 'round. It could be more like

    |

   _|_

--|   |---

  |___|

    |

    |

)

I think we both understand the problem in the same way. There'd be no *actual* reason to build a square manhole cover. My point was just that the "why round?" interview question has become sort of a classic (so far as I can tell), and the cw as to the answer is actually wrong. You could make a manhole cover whatever shape you want -- it's the bevel that keeps it from falling through. The ratio of bevel:radius depends on the shape, but you could doubtless arrive at acceptable values for lots of shapes (and there might be other good reasons for choosing polygons -- stacking or clamping on the flat edges, for example).

They didn't ask about manhole covers, by the way.

Wear pants. That always seemed to impress people here.

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