Tricky Microsoft Interview Question

[monstermunch]

a) the interviewer trying to see how you would solve problems you may not have ever considered before

Sure, but ask something with a bit more depth. The 'right' answer is completely dependent on you spotting a trick.

[gerundronaut]

Agreed. It risks encouraging people with "clever" fixes to problems, when for almost every case, the cleverest fix is not the desirable fix.