There are five thieves, each loot a bakery one after the
other such that the first one takes 1/2 of the total no.
of the breads plus 1/2 of a bread. Similarly 2nd, 3rd,4th
and 5th also did the same. After the fifth one no. of
breads remained are 3. Initially how many breads were there?
Friends,
The Answer given by ‘Gaurav Sharma’ is correct and
the approach (bottom to top) suggested by ‘Shailesh’ is
good. But with minor correction we can arrive the solution
using this approach:
After 5th loot, No. of breads left = 3
after 4th loot, no. of breads left = (3+0.5)x2 = 7
after 3rd loot, no. of breads left = (7+0.5)x2 = 15
after 2nd loot, no. of breads left = (15+0.5)x2 = 31
after 1st loot, no. of breads left = (31+0.5)x2 = 63
So, before 1st loot, no. of breads left = (63+0.5)x2 = 127
127
Friends,
The Answer given by ‘Gaurav Sharma’ is correct and
the approach (bottom to top) suggested by ‘Shailesh’ is
good. But with minor correction we can arrive the solution
using this approach:
After 5th loot, No. of breads left = 3
after 4th loot, no. of breads left = (3+0.5)x2 = 7
after 3rd loot, no. of breads left = (7+0.5)x2 = 15
after 2nd loot, no. of breads left = (15+0.5)x2 = 31
after 1st loot, no. of breads left = (31+0.5)x2 = 63
So, before 1st loot, no. of breads left = (63+0.5)x2 = 127