[Guest]

Each kid in a kindergarten class was given 10 candies each. The teacher then says, "To prevent littering, for every 2 candy wrappers that you turn in, I will give you one more candy."

What is the maximum number of candies that each kid can eat?

[onetruth]

19...and then there will be a whole lot of puking.

[Guest]

Each kid in a kindergarten class was given 10 candies each. The teacher then says, "To prevent littering, for every 2 candy wrappers that you turn in, I will give you one more candy."

What is the maximum number of candies that each kid can eat?

Assuming each kid only uses his own wrappers to turn in (and not borrow some from friends)....

10 right away.

Then 5 from those 10 wrappers.

Then 2 from 4 of those 5 wrappers.

Then 1 from those 2 wrappers.

Then 1 from that 1 wrapper plus the one from the five from earlier.

19 candies!

[Guest]

The correct answer is 20.

Eat 10 candies, have 10 wrappers ... 10 candies eaten

Redeem and eat 5 candies, have 5 wrappers ... 15 candies eaten

Redeem and eat 2 candies, have 3 wrappers ... 17 candies eaten

Redeem and eat 1 candy, have 2 wrappers ... 18 candies eaten

Redeem and eat 1 candy, have 1 wrapper ... 19 candies eaten

Borrow a wrapper from a friend, redeem and eat 1 candy, then return wrapper ... 20 candies eaten.

Sorry rhapsodize, the riddle did not state that you cannot borrow from a friend.

Edited May 9, 2008 by addman

[Guest]

Sorry rhapsodize, the riddle did not state that you cannot borrow from a friend.

Then the answer would depend on how many students are in the classroom.

[Guest]

Not really, if you do not wish to borrow from a classmate, you can always borrow a candy from the teacher, eat it, then redeem the borrowed candy and return it to the teacher.

[Guest]

Not really, if you do not wish to borrow from a classmate, you can always borrow a candy from the teacher, eat it, then redeem the borrowed candy and return it to the teacher.

I think the difference in our thinking lies in the definition of the word "borrow".

Assuming each kid only uses his own wrappers to turn in (and not borrow some from friends)....

I assumed that rhapsodize was using the term loosely here, with no intent on returning the wrapper. (Like in, "Can I borrow some paper to take notes?") If this were the case, then a student could take everyone else's wrappers and use them for himself.

I like the riddle, though.

[Guest]

The correct answer is 20.

Eat 10 candies, have 10 wrappers ... 10 candies eaten

Redeem and eat 5 candies, have 5 wrappers ... 15 candies eaten

Redeem and eat 2 candies, have 3 wrappers ... 17 candies eaten

Redeem and eat 1 candy, have 2 wrappers ... 18 candies eaten

Redeem and eat 1 candy, have 1 wrapper ... 19 candies eaten

Borrow a wrapper from a friend, redeem and eat 1 candy, then return wrapper ... 20 candies eaten.

Sorry rhapsodize, the riddle did not state that you cannot borrow from a friend.

Ok, I have a problem with that, because what about this answer:

The correct answer is 22.

Eat 10 candies, have 10 wrappers ... 10 candies eaten

Redeem and eat 5 candies, have 5 wrappers ... 15 candies eaten

Redeem and eat 2 candies, have 3 wrappers ... 17 candies eaten

Redeem and eat 1 candy, have 2 wrappers ... 18 candies eaten

Redeem and eat 1 candy, have 1 wrapper ... 19 candies eaten

Borrow THREE wrappers from THREE friends, redeem and eat 2 more candies, then return those two wrappers for one more candy ... 22 candies eaten.

If you can borrow from people, then you can make the answer whatever you want. No single solution is better or worse than others then.

(edited to fix a poor cut/paste job)

Edited May 9, 2008 by rhapsodize

[Guest]

Well rhapsodize, borrow by definition implies that you will return the item. In my solution no one owes anyone anything in the end. In your new theory there is still a debt. But no matter, it's just a silly riddle to see if you can squeeze out more candy that you deserve

[akaslickster]

pull out a switch blade to cut his pieces in 1/2 and get 38 pieces each kid.