Measure 45 minutes with two ropes
Company: Intersystems
Role: Software Engineer
Category: Coding & Algorithms
Difficulty: medium
Interview Round: Technical Screen
You have **two ropes**. Each rope takes **exactly 60 minutes** to burn completely, but each rope burns at a **non-uniform rate** (some parts burn faster than others). You have a lighter/matches, and you may light a rope at **one end or both ends**.
You do **not** have any other timing device.
**Task:** Describe a procedure that measures **exactly 45 minutes**.
Quick Answer: This question evaluates logical and analytical reasoning about non-uniform processes, constraint-based problem solving, and temporal estimation skills. It is commonly asked in technical interviews to assess creative reasoning under strict constraints within the Coding & Algorithms domain and targets conceptual understanding of time-based reasoning rather than practical implementation.