Providing Market Research Insights

We are a niche consulting company that has created new and innovative ways to access South African and International Consumer data. Our main product is the Consumer Information Portal that enables clients to easily access relevant market research data. We have modified our original product to include an entirely web based product called the Eighty20 FP. In addition we do bespoke consulting work, create pre-packaged reports on many topics.

Bursary programmes

Eighty20 has launched a bursary scheme for students on the extended curriculum programme run by the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. The programme aims to provide students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds with the fundamental skills needed to cope with graduate studies. Eighty20 awards partial bursaries to four of the most promising students on this programme who have performed exceptionally well during their first year.


Internship Programmes

In addition to receiving a partial bursary two students are offered an internship during university holidays. The internship provides students with practical work experience in an office environment. At the same time it offers Eighty20 the opportunity to learn from the insights and life experience of the interns.

Careers

We encourage our employees to take UNISA courses, on any subject, for a degree or just for fun (which are funded by us). We do this, because we are committed to a culture of learning and career development.

We employ economists, MBAs, actuaries, and statisticians. So if you want to work for us you need strong numeracy skills, be logical and analytical. If that is you then you will love our Eighty20 Challenge. If you want to be hired then you have to complete the challenge. Please see the job board for current vacancies at Eighty20. Select four puzzles (not just the easy ones please), and send your answers and CV to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   Don’t forget to reference the JOB TITLE in the subject line.


The Eighty20 Challenge

The first challenge

Have a good look at our logo. It fits in with the analytical and quantitative emphasis of our approach. What do the blocks in the logo represent? Difficulty rating: pretty easy

A bicycle problem

A bicycle as shown in the picture is a perfectly good bicycle except that it has a piece of string caught up in the rear wheel. If we pull the string in the direction P, will the bicycle move forward, move backward or 'stay put'? Assume that the wheel does not slip on the ground.  Difficulty rating: just try it

Road map

This is a map of the Roads from A to B. Every line is a road. If I start to walk from A to B and you start to walk from B to A at the Same speed, what is the probability that we shall meet? You can take any route you like except that it mustn't go back along a path or away from your destination. For instance, if you come from B to A you must always move from East to West or North to South. What is the probability of us meeting if I cycle and hence travel three times as fast as you? Difficulty rating: really difficult

Throwing dice

In a pub the owner is throwing a number of dice simultaneously. "I am trying to get one of each of the six faces", he says, "But it hasn't happened yet". "No", I said "You need at least four more dice to make the odds in favour of such a thing" How many dice does the owner have?
Difficulty rating: tricky

Square field

Consider a square field with a man standing at each of its four corners. If each man walks directly towards the man on his right they will all eventually reach the middle of the field together. Assuming they walk at the same speed, how far will each man have to walk? Difficulty rating: a challenge to explain