Brain Teasers
The Magic Shop
Fun: (2.26)
Difficulty: (2.18)
Puzzle ID: #4066
Submitted By: GoldieLuvNeopets Corrected By: fishmed
Submitted By: GoldieLuvNeopets Corrected By: fishmed
One day a mysterious figure burst into Laura's Magic Shop and posed her with a puzzle.
Slapping down a huge amount of money on the counter, he said "Divide $1083 (in whole dollar increments) into a number of bags, so that I can ask for any amount between $1 and $1083, and you can give me the proper amount by giving me a certain number of these bags without opening them.
If you are correct, you keep the money. If you aren't, you owe me one of your special potions..."
Laura took the challenge, being a very smart girl. What is the minimum number of bags Laura will require?
Slapping down a huge amount of money on the counter, he said "Divide $1083 (in whole dollar increments) into a number of bags, so that I can ask for any amount between $1 and $1083, and you can give me the proper amount by giving me a certain number of these bags without opening them.
If you are correct, you keep the money. If you aren't, you owe me one of your special potions..."
Laura took the challenge, being a very smart girl. What is the minimum number of bags Laura will require?
Answer
11 bags, filled as follows.1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 60, 64, 126, 256, 512
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