Years ago, when I was still in tech, an interviewer asked me how to time something using burning rope, or something like that. Most have probably seen the puzzle.

I'd seen it before, but couldn't remember how to do it, and couldn't figure it out.

I said "Just tell me the answer."

He recommended me for hire anyway.

Months later I asked him why he asked such a ridiculous question. He said he wanted to know how I think. So I asked him, how do I think?

He didn't really have an answer. He either hadn't thought that far ahead while planning the interview, or didn't have enough information to tell him how I think, or he was too polite to say that I really just don't think.