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Feeding the Monkeys Problem

Feeding the Monkeys Problem

Posers and Puzzles

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Problem: Your job is to feed the monkeys at the local zoo. There are 15 monkeys, and you have 39 bananas to share equally among them. You may cut the bananas into pieces

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1.) How much does each monkey get?

2.) What is the minimum number of pieces you need to make?

3.) What is the minimum number ofcuts you can make to create these pieces?

4.) Explain, using complete sentences as to how you solved this problem and why your answer works!

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Originally posted by Master of Golden Sun
Problem: Your job is to feed the monkeys at the local zoo. There are 15 monkeys, and you have 39 bananas to share equally among them. You may cut the bananas into pieces

SHOW ALL WORK!!!
1.) How much does each monkey get?

2.) What is the minimum number of pieces you need to make?

3.) What is the minimum number ofcuts you can make to cr ...[text shortened]... ) Explain, using complete sentences as to how you solved this problem and why your answer works!
1.) every monkey gets an even share, so every monkey gets 39/15=2+3/5.

2.) You need 30 whole bananas, so then you need to divide 9 bananas by 15. you can make 9 (3/5)'s. then you need to divide 9 (2/5)'s by 6. so you cut 3 of those pieces in half, to give those 6 monkeys a (2/5) and a (1/5). Number of pieces 30 + 9 + 6*2 = 51

3.) For the 30 whole bananas you need no cuts. for those 9 (3/5)'s you need nine cuts. for the last 9 (2/5)'s you need 3 cuts. Total of cuts: 9 +3 = 12

4.) The reason why these are the minima is because all cuts made are efficient. the first 9 cuts gives you pieces with which you can feed 9 monkeys. Then for the next cut gives you pieces to feed 2 monkeys at once. The next two also. There is no other way you can use your cuts this efficient. And the fewer cuts, the fewer pieces.

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Originally posted by Master of Golden Sun
Problem: Your job is to feed the monkeys at the local zoo. There are 15 monkeys, and you have 39 bananas to share equally among them. You may cut the bananas into pieces

SHOW ALL WORK!!!
1.) How much does each monkey get?

2.) What is the minimum number of pieces you need to make?

3.) What is the minimum number ofcuts you can make to cr ...[text shortened]... ) Explain, using complete sentences as to how you solved this problem and why your answer works!
1) each monkey gets 39/15 = 13/5 = 2 and 3/5 banana's

2) + 3)

First you give all monkeys two banana's, that is 30 pieces already. You have 9 banana's left. You can make 9 3/5's by cutting 9 times. Total of 48 pieces already thus. Now you have 9 pieces of 2/5 banana, to divide over 6 monkeys. Cut three of those into two equal pieces, and distribute them among the monkeys. That gives 51 pieces in total, with 12 cuts.

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Originally posted by TheMaster37
1) each monkey gets 39/15 = 13/5 = 2 and 3/5 banana's

2) + 3)

First you give all monkeys two banana's, that is 30 pieces already. You have 9 banana's left. You can make 9 3/5's by cutting 9 times. Total of 48 pieces already thus. Now you have 9 pieces of 2/5 banana, to divide over 6 monkeys. Cut three of those into two equal pieces, and distribute them among the monkeys. That gives 51 pieces in total, with 12 cuts.
You only need two cuts.

Just line up the bananas before you cut them, and use a really big and sharp knife... 😉

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Originally posted by Acolyte
You only need two cuts.

Just line up the bananas before you cut them, and use a really big and sharp knife... 😉
lol, very true!

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Originally posted by Acolyte
You only need two cuts.

Just line up the bananas before you cut them, and use a really big and sharp knife... 😉
On the topic of cuts, suppose you have an apple. If you make n planar cuts through it, what is the largest number of pieces you can make (you can't move pieces between cuts)?

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Originally posted by royalchicken
On the topic of cuts, suppose you have an apple. If you make n planar cuts through it, what is the largest number of pieces you can make (you can't move pieces between cuts)?
What kind of apple? The answer for a Fuji would be different from a Red Delicious.

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Originally posted by richjohnson
What kind of apple? The answer for a Fuji would be different from a Red Delicious.
Red delicious yes because of the pointy bits. Why not just say a totally convex apple?

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2-4
3-8
4-15?
5 would require a modle, so i wont bother.

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Originally posted by fearlessleader
2-4
3-8
4-15?
5 would require a modle, so i wont bother.
No model needed....just think about intersections.

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Anyone...?

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