The Elderberries by Corey Pandolph and Phil Frank and Joe Troise for August 24, 2014
August 23, 2014
August 25, 2014
Transcript:
Dusty: Whatcha doin', Perfessor? Professor: Oh... I'm trying out this new "Mind Aerobics" online training program, Dusty. It uses problem-solving to invigorate our thinking process. Dusty: ya' don't say! Kin I try it? Hmm... Hold on a minute. I'll be right back! Professor: But, Dusty... you haven't fini... hey! That's my sock drawer!! Dusty: Answer: 60 socks. Problem #1: You have 30 white socks and 30 black socks in a drawer, but you are in a pitch black room. How many socks would you have to pull out to be sure you had one white and one black one?
manteo16nc over 9 years ago
31. But you need to go into a lighted room to pick out two and put them on. You wouldn’t like wearing 15 1/2 pairs of socks.
bkybl Premium Member over 9 years ago
31, right. But you’d only need to pull out 5 or 6 for the probability to be pretty good of getting two different colors.
ellisaana Premium Member over 9 years ago
3 would give you a pair of matching socks.To be sure you have one white and one black sock, you would need to pull out 31.
ellisaana Premium Member over 9 years ago
I read it wrong the first time, too.
It is something of a brain bender because it’s just a twist away from the expected question..Enjoy your day off :)
Retired Dude over 9 years ago
Why would anyone want one of each?
BaconBoyCamper over 9 years ago
Ya need more of your special brand of Coffee, there, Dr T…
JP Steve Premium Member over 9 years ago
I remember Walt Wallet solving this problem for one of the grandchildren back about 1960 — I wasn’t even a teenager!(In his version three was the right answer.)
banjinshiju over 9 years ago
In the original problem I read years ago, it was green and red, because those colors appear the same in the dark. White and black are too easy recognize in low lighting.