How To Solve The Mislabeled Apple/Oranges Interview Question

In front of you are 3 boxes. One box contains only apples, another box contains only oranges, and the last contains both apples and oranges. The first box has the label "apples," the second "oranges," and the third "apples and oranges." Unfortunately all of the labels are wrong. Your job is to fix the labels. You are not allowed to peek inside any of the boxes. But you can ask for a sample from any box. You point to a box, and you get a fruit from that box. What is the minimum number of samples you need to label all of the boxes correctly? Answer wisely because this problem has been asked during job interviews! Can you figure it out? Watch the video for the solution.

*Small correction: at 4:22: row 3, column 3 should read "apples and oranges."

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[Qermaq]

This is an easy one, but I liked how you got into it a bit deeper.

[martinshoosterman]

You honesty cant compare the two, its apples and oranges here.

[Jason-omcg]

I paused the video and figured it out in only 5 days. I AM THE SMARTEST MAN ALIVE

[racojahtheloxodon]

I fucking solved this one. I made this riddle my bitch.

[TheDeuceofSpades]

Never stop asking the viewers, "Did you figure it/this out?" At the end of your video. It's your signature.

[MichaelDeeringMHC]

Here's another puzzle for you. How many people in the comment section are lying?

[benjaminv]

Quite good tbh, but quite simple when you get it. I like it!

[duck]

but what if there is an orange in the apples and oranges box.
-my sister 2017

[justin_sr]

My problem with this question is that in reality, if the boxes were mislabeled they would have been randomly labeled from negligence by an employee that didn't check the boxes. In that case, a box could be labeled correctly and all 6 permutations are possible which then makes the problem much more difficult and interesting.

[DrGerbils]

I could answer this if the boxes were bags or urns and the fruit were colored rocks or marbles, but with apples and oranges, I'm stumped.

[reggie]

What i did to solve this riddle is that since i know oranges are heavier than apples from experience, then i can assume which ever box is the heaviest, is the oranges, which one is the lightest is the apples and whichever is in between are the apples and oranges

[vividhgarg]

I was asked THIS exact question in an interview recently. Was able to solve it there but with some time and after a whole month YouTube recommends this from your channel. I have been watching this channel for 8 months🤦🏻 If only it was recommended sooner. Hope YouTube can read this.

[cdogg]

This is the first one of your riddles I could solve, I feel so accomplished :)

[PavlosPapageorgiou]

Easy one. I would ask the interviewer "do you really mean all labels are _wrong_ or all labels are random"?

[jazznik]

This turned out to be pretty easy but had to draw a diagram first and then think for a few minutes, but if you select a sample from the box labeled "Oranges and Apples" this tells what in all 3 boxes. So sampling just once is all you need if you sample the 3rd box..

[jessstuart]

I usually seem to overlook the key information "all labels are wrong" when reading these problems and assume you have no information about the labels (they could be wrong or right). I guess it seems unnatural to me that you would somehow know all labels are wrong. If you have no information about the labels the number of samples you need is probabilistic and depends on your first sample, and the mix in the apples+oranges box. You end up drawing fruit from boxes until you get two different fruits from the same box. This could take a while if there is only one orange in the apple+oranges box.

[MultiSteveB]

One! From the "Apples & Oranges" (mislabeled) box (Box #3). Since it is mislabeled, you know it is either all apples, or all oranges. Whichever you get, shows what it is, leaving two other boxes. Since neither of their labels are correct, and one of those labels just got used on the third box, that leaves only one of the "apples" / "oranges" labels, which must go on the box that previously was labeled with the label that was moved to box #3. Which leaves the remaining box taking the "oranges & apples" label.

[ThaaaOneXoxo]

Omg thank you! Makes much more sense I have an interview with apple and I want to be ready in case they ask this lol

[victoriawong]

I've not watched the rest but I'm going to guess 1 sample from the apples and oranges box. Then method of elimination and logic for other two

*watches vid*

Yay

[AlanKey]

Thank god it's not another viral puzzle.
This one was actually quite good.