IMC Trading–styleTraderGraduate Quantitative TraderQuestion #97

A robot is placed on a table that is 20 cm wide. The robot starts at a point 3 cm away from one of the edges. Each step, it moves either 10 cm to the left or 10 cm to the right with equal probability. What is the expected number of steps until the robot falls off the table?

Build Your Approach

State the assumptions, try a simple case, then work toward a general solution. Check the result and explain how it changes if an assumption changes.

Try the free diagnostic with worked solutions →

Get Free Interview Prep Resources

Practice the Reasoning Behind the Answer

Bring your target roles and interview timeline to a free quant consult. Discuss your preparation priorities and how Quant Blueprint’s lessons, practice and mock interviews can help.

Book a Free Quant Consult

Your goals · your preparation · your next steps