What's your answer to this problem-solving question?

Bugz

Fledgling Freddie
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A game has two bags of balls. Bag A contains four red balls and four blue balls. Bag B contains four red bats and four blue bats.

To play the game you have to have a matching red bat and red ball which are drawn from the bags whilst blindfolded. To achieve this what is the least number of bats and balls you must draw from the bag.

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P.S - I know the answer after getting it wrong, just curious how others interpret it.
 

fettoken

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A game has two bags of balls. Bag A contains four red balls and four blue balls. Bag B contains four red bats and four blue bats.

To play the game you have to have a matching red bat and red ball which are drawn from the bags whilst blindfolded. To achieve this what is the least number of bats and balls you must draw from the bag.

---

P.S - I know the answer after getting it wrong, just curious how others interpret it.

In the end it says "the bag", or you just mis-spelled it? Oh, if i get it wrong, do i just prove my cluelessness or? :(
 

Bugz

Fledgling Freddie
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Should be 'bags' - my mistake.

And no - it won't prove your stupidity - may prove just how careless the wording is though and how things need to be 'explained' more :)
 

Mabs

J Peasemould Gruntfuttock
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five of each to guarantee it, no ?
 

Mabs

J Peasemould Gruntfuttock
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you got 4 of each colour of each one

so to guarantee a red ball:
b,b,b,b,r = 5
same again with the bat, no ?
 

Bugz

Fledgling Freddie
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That is correct Mabs but the lack of the word guarantee is what threw me.

What is stopping the sod from whipping off the blindfold after taking one from each and trying his luck in the game. Statistically, it is possible and that would surely be the least amount.
 

old.Tohtori

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To play the game you have to have a matching red bat and red ball which are drawn from the bags whilst blindfolded. To achieve this what is the least number of bats and balls you must draw from the bag.

2, 1 bat and 1 ball.

That's the LEAST amount to draw to get the ball and bat.

If you want to make SURE you get a red ball and red bat, then it's different.

Badly worded. Very bad for a logistic problem even :eek6: Should call on it.
 

Gorbachioo

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I dont get this.


Isnt tohtoris answer the obvious (and only) one? :twak:


Or am i just so much smarter than ya'll? :lol::kissit::clap::drink::flame::england::iagree:
 

gohan

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it's badly worded, but its still quite clear

"u MUST have 1 red bat 1 red ball whats the least to ACHIEVE this"

so 5

althought it doesnt say garentee so you'v got a 25% chance of doing it in just 2 balls... it think its 25% anyway

or is it 50% or 37.5%

i get lost when splitiing 2 50% between two seperate things

i think its 25%

50% in first bag then 50% in second so a 50% chance of getting one out of either but 25% of getting both?
 

crispy

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you got 4 of each colour of each one

so to guarantee a red ball:
b,b,b,b,r = 5
same again with the bat, no ?

Problem is you have no idea what color the bat is.

How does this guarantee you have a red bat while you have the red ball?
 

Lakih

Resident Freddy
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Problem is you have no idea what color the bat is.

How does this guarantee you have a red bat while you have the red ball?

Just as mabs said, when you pick up 5 items of the set (doesnt matter if its balls or bats) then you can be sure you have atleast one of each colour.

Worst case scenario, you have 4 items of one colour (all of them) and one of the other colour
 

crispy

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Just as mabs said, when you pick up 5 items of the set (doesnt matter if its balls or bats) then you can be sure you have atleast one of each colour.

Worst case scenario, you have 4 items of one colour (all of them) and one of the other colour

Ah,

I thought that you took a bat from the bat bag, then a ball from the ball bag and tried to hit. Then you either take a new bat or ball, or both and try agian to see if its the right combination.
 

Ezteq

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um i would say 5 bats and one ball ...i probably just showed what a complete dunce i am but thats what i'd of said anyhoo

btw if ive just repeated what anyone else has said its because i didn't read the replies before i posted...dont wanna cheat tbh)
 

Bugz

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The answer can be interpretted in two ways.

5 & 5 would be correct as you have GUARANTEED having the colour for both.

1 & 1, because of shit wording, could also be correct, simply because it is possible to take one from each, try your luck with the game and in fact win.

Conclusion: badly worded question - not an official question - written by some turd.
 

Ezteq

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Conclusion: badly worded question - not an official question - written by some turd.

This is Bugs...help him on his mission, he has waged a War Against Turds!!!

to contribute to the BWAT foundation call 118 118 and ask for the turd donation department!
 

gohan

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um i would say 5 bats and one ball ...i probably just showed what a complete dunce i am but thats what i'd of said anyhoo

btw if ive just repeated what anyone else has said its because i didn't read the replies before i posted...dont wanna cheat tbh)

actually thats is very intelligent


5 bats and 1 ball or 5 balls and 1 bat would ensure you had a pair



5 and 5 would be to garentuee either blue OR red but to jsut get a matching pair then yes 5 and 1 would be right
 

Bugz

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When I get in - i'll find 1-2 more challenging ones.

These are fairly easy albeit poorly worded.

Some of the higher-end ones require a great deal of consideration :)
 

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