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 about 10 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 about 10 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 about 10 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 about 10 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 about 10 years ago
Why would anyone want one of each?
BaconBoyCamper about 10 years ago
Ya need more of your special brand of Coffee, there, Dr T…
JP Steve Premium Member about 10 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 about 10 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.