Calculate variance for coin flips

Last updated: July 7, 2025

Quick Overview

Given the following scenario about user conversion, calculate the the sample size needed.

Palantir
Statistics & Math
Data Scientist
Palantir
July 7, 2025
Data Scientist
Technical Screen
Statistics & Math
Hard

288

2

4,626 solved


Given the following scenario about user conversion, calculate the the sample size needed.

Statistics questions at Palantir test your ability to reason quantitatively and design rigorous experiments. This Technical Screen question evaluates your understanding of statistical inference and its application to business decisions.

What the Interviewer Expects
  • Derive results from first principles when needed
  • Handle complex scenarios with multiple interacting variables
  • Design experiments that account for real-world complications
  • Discuss advanced topics: Bayesian methods, causal inference, resampling
  • Connect statistical concepts to business decision-making
  • Identify subtle errors in reasoning (Simpson's paradox, survivorship bias)
Key Topics to Cover
Hypothesis testing (H0, H1, p-values)
Central Limit Theorem
Power analysis and sample size calculation
Probability distributions
How to Approach This
  1. Define your hypotheses (H0 and H1) clearly before performing any test.
  2. Calculate required sample size BEFORE running an experiment, using power analysis.
  3. Remember the Central Limit Theorem: sample means become approximately normal with large n.
  4. Watch for Simpson's paradox. Always segment data by key dimensions.
  5. Distinguish between statistical significance and practical significance.
Possible Follow-up Questions
  • How would you design a follow-up experiment based on these results?
  • What assumptions does this test make, and how would you validate them?
  • How would you explain this result to a non-technical audience?
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