Rocky4 Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 You have $1,000 in 1 dollar bills and 10 envelopes. You job is to put the money in the envelopes in different amounts so that, no matter what amount I ask for, you can hand me the amount with a combination of envelopes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky4 Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 Trouble is once someone posts the correct answer, the party's over. I solved this quickly, but I'm a geek. I'll give the same clue that was given on the air: one of the envelopes will contain $489 you're a Car Talk listener to, I take it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 My first thought was a binary expansion but it didn't work (got $1023), but I got it now (took me a moment). BTW, one of the envelopes does not have to contain $489. It contains up to $489 but not necessarily exactly $489. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izzy Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 I can write you a check. Does that count? Amen, bro...my mind blew right there. That would have taken me an hour or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman5293 Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 This one is easy. Also figured it out using binary. Don't want to spoil it for anyone else though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 This one is easy. Also figured it out using binary. Don't want to spoil it for anyone else though. Hehe. Right. The binary system works on the same basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 This one is easy. Also figured it out using binary. Don't want to spoil it for anyone else though. Whats the answer in binary? Is binary like binding? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Whats the answer in binary? Is binary like binding? No, binary is more like Your effect pedals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Could You please give me 23 buck more? Based on the "binary" thnking 1000$ won't be enough... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennis Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Could You please give me 23 buck more? Based on the "binary" thnking 1000$ won't be enough... that's what I was thinking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 It was my understanding there would be no math-Chevy Chase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaysEpiphone Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Is it ok if I just keep the cash for some debts I owe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Wrong! It is binary, but in order for the total to equal 1,000, the last envelope must contain exactly 489, not 512, the difference being 23. If it contains less than that you're short. I think you misunderstood me. I know the solution is a binary solution, but only up to a certain point. That's the part I needed to think about. The point is that you don't need to have all $1,000 in all the envelopes (that is never stated in the original posed problem). That's what took me a moment. Hence, my statement "up to $489 but not necessarily exactly $489." The last envelope only contains what you need to give for what was asked. This happens if he asks for anything between $512 and $1,000. If he asks for $512 then you only need $1 dollar in the last envelope. So I beg to differ when you state it must contain exactly $489. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted February 1, 2013 Share Posted February 1, 2013 ...So I beg to differ when you state it must contain exactly $489. What are you... some kinda rocket scientist? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 I'm an engineer, so you guys figure it out and then I'll go around telling everybody about it like I figured it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky4 Posted February 2, 2013 Author Share Posted February 2, 2013 $1 $2 $4 $8 $16 $32 $64 $128 $256 $489 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted February 2, 2013 Share Posted February 2, 2013 $1 $2 $4 $8 $16 $32 $64 $128 $256 $489 Oh look... a solution based in binary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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