barry@ihuxt.UUCP (11/18/83)
you have 4 pigpens. you have 21 pigs. you have to place an odd number of pigs in each pigpen. (zero is not an odd number). (this was a homework problem for the 10 year old daughter of a guy in our department). Rich Barry ihuxt!barry
walsh@ihuxi.UUCP (11/18/83)
You didn't say if you had to put all the pigs in pens! Put one in each pen and have a big luau with the other seventeen! :-) B. Walsh
barry@ihuxt.UUCP (11/19/83)
There is some confusion about this puzzle. You must put ALL 21 pigs in their pigpens. Cooking, Burning, Eating, and Luau's are not allowed!!!!! Rich Barry ihuxt!barry
lied@ihlts.UUCP (11/19/83)
Okay, I'll bite. It can't be done. The sum of two odd numbers has to be even --> the sum of four odd numbers has to be even--> no way can four numbers add up to 21. If that's not it, my second guess is that the probability is 2/3. Bob "I hope Martin Gardner fries in Hell" Lied ...ihnp4!ihlts!lied
robison@eosp1.UUCP (11/20/83)
The problem is to place 21 pigs in 4 pigpens so that each contains an odd number of pigs. There are many solutions provided that some pigpens are wholly contained inside other pens. E.g., suppose that pigpen 1 is wholly inside pigpen 2. Then place pigs as follows: pen 1: 1 pig pen 2: 10 pigs within pen 2, but outside pen 1. pen 3: 3 pigs pen 4 7 pigs. Note that all four pens contain an odd number of pigs, because pen 2 contains its 10 pigs, plus the pig in pen one. - Keremath, care of: Robison decvax!ittvax!eosp1 or: allegra!eosp1
3391dms@hogpc.UUCP (11/21/83)
All of these answers about pens-within-pens are a bit far-fetched... Here's my solution: 1.) you take 7 pigs, and place them in pen #1. 2.) Herd 5 more of the pigs into pen #2. 3.) Chase frantically after 3 pigs (it's getting harder to catch them now), and when you get them, put them in pen #3 4.) Slowly, methodically, lead each of the remaining pigs into pen #4. (Save the pregnant one for last...) This leaves you with 7, 5, 3, and 9 (three adorable piglets were born the instant ma was led through the gate). Papa pig will be distributing cigars from pen #2... :-) D. M. Schmid AT&T Consumer Products Laboratories Holmdel, NJ
laura@utcsstat.UUCP (Laura Creighton) (11/23/83)
ou ought to be able to put your pens together in such a way that you can place a pig in the space between the pens which is also closed. (Another way to say this is to make sure the pens touch each other.) Laura Creighton utzoo!utcsstat!laura