If it was just a setup to eventually providing an answer she already had in her pocket, is that the same thing really that's being discussed? Willingness to look stupid and earnestness to find an answer?
As someone who's recently been put in a position to make sure everyone's aligned (and failing quite a bit at it), it sounds like genius, in my opinion.
To stay respectful, it is polite to negotiate with all participants in its use.
When you already (think you) know the answer, then it's a pedagogical technique. That's ok unless you happen to be wrong about the answer.
I always ask people why, because I sometimes learn something new, I often learn about the knowledge level of the other participants, and it anchors everyone to the fundamental problem we are trying to solve.