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:
- 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.
- Day 2: Hand over the second 1/5th piece.
- Day 3: Take back both 1/5th pieces and give them the 3/5th piece.
- Day 4: Return the first 1/5th piece. Now they hold 4/5ths.
- Day 5: Add the second 1/5th piece to complete the 5/5th payment.
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👇
