Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Brainteaser for the day

A pharaoh is building a pyramid and has contracted a worker to build it over the course of 6 days. The pharaoh has 1 gold bar in which to pay the worker but must pay him equal amounts each day. He only has the means to cut the bar twice. How is this accomplished?

6 comments:

Nikki said...

He makes the worker finish in four days?

He pays him nothing each day and keeps the bar himself?

Erica Lynn said...

alright ...

day 1 - he cuts of 1 piece (1/6) and gives him it
day 2 - he cuts a double piece (1/3) and trades the double piece for the single piece
day 3 - he gets to keep both pieces
day 4 -

wait .. mmm .. the version I heard of this before was with 7 days :P

Anonymous said...

Answer 1: If he can cut it twice, then each time he cuts it he needs to cut 3 equal pieces. Does that make sense?

Answer 2: He should cut it twice by making 3 equal pieces. Then He should pay the worker by handing him a bar between 11:59 pm and 12:00 am so that the payment counts for two days. I know, it's a stretch...

Mike said...

Erica was basically right. she basically got it. cut it into 3 pieces: 1 piece is 1/6 of the bar, one piece is 2/6 of the bar, one piece is 3/6 of the bar. Day one pay, him 1/6. day two, give him 2/6, he gives you 1/6 back. Day 3, give him 1/6. Day 4, give him 3/6 piece, he gives you 2/6 piece. Day 5 give him 2/6 piece, he gives you back 1/6 piece. Day 6, give him 1/6 piece. You've paid him 1/6 each day, and at the end of the 6 days he has the whole bar.

VOILA!

Anonymous said...

That's a good one!

Keri Donald said...

While I see what you mean by the answer, I think that with the way that you worded the question ("cut the bar twice"), Brittany's Answer 1 should work too. :)