We used several of this type of question in interviews for technical reporting analyst positions.
After pointing to a water tower out the interviewers window, ask the candidate "How would you figure out how many jelly beans it would take to fill the water tower?" You are not looking for an answer; you are looking for a mental process that would be followed to arrive at an answer. If the response is, I have no idea where to even start, that candidate was not right for the job we were looking to fill.
Another question involves telling the candidate - "I want you to tell me about the weather?" What additional questions do you need an answer to before you can actually tell me what I really need to know? Some example questions we were looking for included - current month average, max high and lows temps and or percipitation,: annual averages: current day conditions or tomorrow or next week; for this location of some other location? All intended to make sure the candidate understood the problem scope before they expended time and effort compiling a solution.