Minimum Cut Puzzle

Minimum Cut Puzzle: A Brain-Teaser for Job Interviews

Ever wondered how puzzles test your problem-solving skills during interviews at top companies like Wipro and Deloitte? Here’s a classic challenge:

The Puzzle: Minimum Cuts for Payment

Imagine you hire someone to work for you for five days, and you must pay them 1/5th of a gold bar at the end of each day. The twist? You want to minimize the number of cuts you make to the gold bar.

Challenge: What’s the minimum number of cuts needed to fulfill this condition?

Please take 1 minute to think it through! ⏱️

The Solution: Two Cuts Are All You Need

To solve this puzzle, you’ll make just two cuts in the gold bar. Here’s how:

Cut the gold bar into three pieces:

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  • One piece is worth 1/5th of the bar.
  • Another piece worth 1/5th of the bar.
  • The last piece is worth 3/5ths of the bar.

Daily Payment Plan:

  • Day 1: Hand over the 1/5th piece.
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  • Day 2: Hand over the second 1/5th piece.
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  • Day 3: Take back both 1/5th pieces and give them the 3/5th piece.
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  • Day 4: Return the first 1/5th piece. Now they hold 4/5ths.
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  • Day 5: Add the second 1/5th piece to complete the 5/5th payment.
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This approach perfectly balances the need to pay daily with the goal of minimizing cuts. Want more puzzles like this or interview tips? Drop a comment below👇

Picture of aravind16101800@gmail.com

aravind16101800@gmail.com

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