I got a brain teaser prob from a micro$oft interview EDIT: possible answer!!!

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Z

z0mb13

Lifer
May 19, 2002
18,106
1
76
Just had an interview with them and this is the brain teaser prob that they gave me (still can't solve it):

A manager and a worker works in a gold mining company. The manager pays each worker one gold bar a week. Each worker works 7 days a week. The gold bar has markings on them so that you can cut it evenly into seven equal pieces. Each worker must get a 1/7 cut of the gold bar each day. But the catch is that the manager can only cut the gold bar TWO times a week. How should the manager solve this problem??

I thought about this problem a lot, and I simply can't find a way to cut a gold bar shape into 7 equal pieces by only using 2 cuts

any ideas??

EDIT: electrode's idea of stacking the gold bars gave me this possible answer.

Just stack 7 gold bars, cut them at the 1/7th marker, and you have a payment for a worker each day for the week!! (yes this is kinda silly that you need to spend 7 gold bars initially for a person, but the problem does not say anything about this!!)


 
M

MrBond

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2000
9,911
0
76
Is the position riding on the answer to this? Cause that seems like a pretty shady way to select people for a job...
 
M

Maverick

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
5,900
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71
Originally posted by: MrBond
Is the position riding on the answer to this? Cause that seems like a pretty shady way to select people for a job...
Click to expand...

yeah I know...who'd have thought Microsoft would be so shady? :D
 
W

Wallydraigle

Banned
Nov 27, 2000
10,754
1
0
Originally posted by: z0mb13
Just had an interview with them and this is the brain teaser prob that they gave me (still can't solve it):

A manager and a worker works in a gold mining company. The manager pays each worker one gold bar a week. Each worker works 7 days a week. The gold bar has markings on them so that you can cut it evenly into seven equal pieces. Each worker must get a 1/7 cut of the gold bar each day. But the catch is that the manager can only cut the gold bar TWO times a week. How should the manager solve this problem??

I thought about this problem a lot, and I simply can't find a way to cut a gold bar shape into 7 equal pieces by only using 2 cuts

any ideas??
Click to expand...


Is this a propaganda item expounding the benefits of being paid via direct deposit?
 
Z

z0mb13

Lifer
May 19, 2002
18,106
1
76
Originally posted by: Electrode
Cut 14 bars at once. It didn't say you can only cut one bar.
Click to expand...

this still does not work?? if u use 14 bars, u need to use em for 14 people.

if u still know, explain......
 
Z

z0mb13

Lifer
May 19, 2002
18,106
1
76
Originally posted by: lirion
Originally posted by: z0mb13
Just had an interview with them and this is the brain teaser prob that they gave me (still can't solve it):

A manager and a worker works in a gold mining company. The manager pays each worker one gold bar a week. Each worker works 7 days a week. The gold bar has markings on them so that you can cut it evenly into seven equal pieces. Each worker must get a 1/7 cut of the gold bar each day. But the catch is that the manager can only cut the gold bar TWO times a week. How should the manager solve this problem??

I thought about this problem a lot, and I simply can't find a way to cut a gold bar shape into 7 equal pieces by only using 2 cuts

any ideas??
Click to expand...


Is this a propaganda item expounding the benefits of being paid via direct deposit?
Click to expand...

huh???
 
G

Garlicboy

Member
Mar 3, 2000
78
0
0
Even if you can only cut one bar at a time, why not have a blade (a single blade, shaped somewhat like an 'S'). Make your 2 cuts at the beginning of the week.

The blade will look like this:
____________
|
|____________
|
____________|

2 cuts at the beggining of the week..and you'll have all 7 pieces.

Edited: Note that the ASCII art picture loses some formatting...but you get the idea.
 
W

Wallydraigle

Banned
Nov 27, 2000
10,754
1
0
Originally posted by: z0mb13
Originally posted by: lirion
Originally posted by: z0mb13
Just had an interview with them and this is the brain teaser prob that they gave me (still can't solve it):

A manager and a worker works in a gold mining company. The manager pays each worker one gold bar a week. Each worker works 7 days a week. The gold bar has markings on them so that you can cut it evenly into seven equal pieces. Each worker must get a 1/7 cut of the gold bar each day. But the catch is that the manager can only cut the gold bar TWO times a week. How should the manager solve this problem??

I thought about this problem a lot, and I simply can't find a way to cut a gold bar shape into 7 equal pieces by only using 2 cuts

any ideas??
Click to expand...


Is this a propaganda item expounding the benefits of being paid via direct deposit?
Click to expand...

huh???
Click to expand...

Don't worry about it.
 
R

Rainsford

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
17,515
0
0
Heh, how about cutting each of 2 bars into 7 pieces at the beginning of the week? That satisfies the problem, although it's not the answer they were probably looking for. But some companies like "outside the box" thinking. I wouldn't imagine MS would be one of them though :)
 
XZeroII

XZeroII

Lifer
Jun 30, 2001
12,572
0
0
I assume that is not the exact wording of the question. I would argue the you should take 7 bars and stack them up one on top of the other. Then cut 1/7th off the end. 1 of these pieces will be given each day to the worker. Do the same with another 7 bars and that would be for the manager.
 
Evadman

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
81
Originally posted by: z0mb13
Just had an interview with them and this is the brain teaser prob that they gave me (still can't solve it):

A manager and a worker works in a gold mining company. The manager pays each worker one gold bar a week. Each worker works 7 days a week. The gold bar has markings on them so that you can cut it evenly into seven equal pieces. Each worker must get a 1/7 cut of the gold bar each day. But the catch is that the manager can only cut the gold bar TWO times a week. How should the manager solve this problem??

I thought about this problem a lot, and I simply can't find a way to cut a gold bar shape into 7 equal pieces by only using 2 cuts

any ideas??
Click to expand...

Lobby the cutting union for more cuts per day. Just beacuse a rule says 2, does not mean it can be changed.

You are all reading too far into it. Where does it say you can only cut it once on a given day? Cut 3 of the marks on monday, and the other 3 on thursday. In other owrds, there is nothing that says you only get 2 cuts. Just 2 days out of a week is when you can cut the bars.

 
A

Antisocial Virge

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 1999
6,578
0
0
Hmm...Do they mean 2 actual cuts a week. *cut* *cut* or only cut it two days a week? *monday* and *wednesday* ? ;)

EDIT:DAMN..should have refreshed the thread.
 
XZeroII

XZeroII

Lifer
Jun 30, 2001
12,572
0
0
I think they are just checking to see how you solve problems. If you just write "I dont' know", they know that you are not very creative. If you come up with a really clever solution, they will be impressed. It's just an abstract thinking question.
 
B

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
2
0
Who says the pieces have to come from the same gold bar?

Why can't he have 4 gold bars per person? Then cut each of them twice, and he'll have more than enough, with some to save for future weeks.

Or tell them if they don't hire you, you'll become a full-time Linux zealot. :)
 
K

klah

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2002
7,070
1
0
Originally posted by: z0mb13
How should the manager solve this problem??
any ideas??
Click to expand...

Delegate responsibility. If your employees can not solve the problem they do not get paid.
 
T

Talon

Golden Member
Oct 29, 1999
1,426
0
0
With 2 cuts, divide the bar into 3 pieces of 1/7, 2/7 and 4/7.

Day 1: Give 1/7 piece.
Day 2: Take back 1/7 and give 2/7 piece.
Day 3: Give 1/7 piece.
Day 4: Take back 1/7 and 2/7 and give 4/7.
Day 5: Give 1/7 piece.
Day 6: Take back 1/7 and give 2/7.
Day 7: Give 1/7.
 
B

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
2
0
Originally posted by: Talon
With 2 cuts, divide the bar into 3 pieces of 1/7, 2/7 and 4/7.

Day 1: Give 1/7 piece.
Day 2: Take back 1/7 and give 2/7 piece.
Day 3: Give 1/7 piece.
Day 4: Take back 1/7 and 2/7 and give 4/7.
Day 5: Give 1/7 piece.
Day 6: Take back 1/7 and give 2/7.
Day 7: Give 1/7.
Click to expand...

Hey, we have a winner! Congrats!
 
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