Question

Homer is giving some cookies to each of his three brothers. To the oldest, he gives half of the cookies and half a cookie. He then gives half of what is now left and half a cookie to his second brother. Finally, he gives half of what is now left and half a cookie to his second brother. At no time is a cookie broken or cut. How many cookies did Homer have to begin with?

Answer 1

If he had three brothers, the third got nothing, and the second brother got cookies twice!

Assuming he gave everything away, and working backwards:

"Finally, he gives half of what is now left and half a cookie to his second brother."
means at the end, he gave away the last one. (half of ONE that is left, and the other half).

"He then gives half of what is now left and half a cookie to his second brother."
So he had three to start, half of what is left is one and a half, plus half makes two. That leaves one.

"To the oldest, he gives half of the cookies and half a cookie."
After this, he had three, so half is three and a half, and he started with 7.

Conclusion: he started with 7 cookies.

In fact, if he had N brothers, he needs a minimum of 2^N-1 cookies to start with.

Answer 2

Yep that’s right

Answer 3

uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh idk

Answer 4

great explanation. But may be explain the steps a little better.

Answer 5

Make it easier to understand

Answer 6

The explanation should have been better

Answer 7

asdfasdf

Answer 8

You are all asking for him to explain better like he did great y'all just looking for the answer online