Brain Teasers
Too Many Women
In a far far land, there was a long war.
Many men died in that war, and when it was over
there were not enough men to marry all the women in the kingdom.
The king wanted balance between men and women, so he issued an order that any woman who gives birth to a girl, will stop having children after that.
His theory was that there would be several families with one girl and one or no boys,
but there would also be families with several boys and only one girl, and so after a few years the number of males in the kingdom would increase.
What was wrong with the king's plan and why won't it work?
Many men died in that war, and when it was over
there were not enough men to marry all the women in the kingdom.
The king wanted balance between men and women, so he issued an order that any woman who gives birth to a girl, will stop having children after that.
His theory was that there would be several families with one girl and one or no boys,
but there would also be families with several boys and only one girl, and so after a few years the number of males in the kingdom would increase.
What was wrong with the king's plan and why won't it work?
Answer
Assuming that the birth rate between boys and girls is 1:1,At first, half the women would give birth to boys, and half would give birth to girls.
Then, only one half would be able to continue having children, so half of them will have boys, and half will have girls, and so on...
As you can see, the number of boys and girls remains the same.
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Comments
Jun 10, 2002
Quite clever.
a part of maths and logic.
anyhow wise thiniking.i appreciate it.
anyhow wise thiniking.i appreciate it.
I'm not the brightest star in the Brangle universe, and at first glance it seemed to me that this would result in more girls; though now I'm sure you're right if the birth ratio is 1:1. Fun teaser!
this seems like proabability
i want to live in this kingdom
Don't we all, don't we all......
What was wrong with the plan: citizens would have children regardless of the King's law. Human nature.
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