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17. Sandals

What is the maximum number of sandals Simone can pick before she picks a matching pair?

Create scenarios for the third, fourth and fifth picks
if the colors are all still the same.

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What is three times three?

Comments (6)

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New
Frostsays...

It’s dark, she can’t see, she can feel. The answer is 3.

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New
Alsays...

Ok... Culturally, our sandals don't have left or right. They are symmetrical, so it wouldn't matter if you had a left of right sandal as they are all the same. Shoes or gloves would have been a better choice for this question.

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New
Upalisays...

the answer should be 3. Minimum attempts 2 (lucky) and in 3rd attempts, he has 3 sandals with matching two (2 green or two yellow)

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Senior
IQTLsays...

The question asks for the maximum attempts! With minimum attempts, and assuming luck is a factor, the answer could very well be '2'.

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New
Vssays...

Why not 5 ? In the 6th she will find two yellow sandals so the max times she have to check is 5.

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New
pcssays...

If there are already no matching pairs by the 5th pick, Simone will know that the 6th pick will produce a match.

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New
Elweewut Roonesays...

This depends on how you interpret the question:

• If you interpret it using standard mathematical knowledge, you would probably arrive at 5, since 6 would be the first to certainly produce a matching pair, so 5 would be the last possible point before guaranteeing a matching pair.

• If you interpret it using computer science (algorithmic) knowledge, you would probably arrive at 6, since 6 would be the first to certainly produce a matching pair, but there must be an extra checking step to ensure that there is a matching pair, so Simone can pick at most 6 sandals BEFORE FINDING a matching pair.

However, the second version is flawed because Simone could pick 9 sandals and THEN determine if there is at least one matching pair.

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Senior
IQTLsays...

There is definitely a wording issue and it will be addressed, however strictly speaking, as it stands, the question is technically correct. Simone is picking out sandals in the dark. The maximum number of sandals she can pick out before having a match remains 6.

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New
Roseannesays...

6. Even if Simone picks all left (or right) green sandals, and afterwards all left (or right) yellow sandals, the 6th pick will make a match.

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