Okay .. did you see my last answer? I think it is 5
But now I have another one and I think I know the answer but there is a trick question at the end. Maybe you can tell me if it is a trick or if it something I am missing.
A golf classic starts with 64 golfers. The golfers form pairs and each pair plays a match. The losers drop out and the winners of each pair then form new pairs and play again. Thenk those winners form pairs and play. this continues until there is one winner.
a) In how many matches must the winner play (and my answer is 5)
b)(the trick question)
How many matches are played by all the golfers to determine the winner?
Well it seems too easy to be real .. cuz I think it would be just one match since it says ALL golfers and after one match, half of them have to stop playing because they lost.
Am I right?
Thanks again.
emily
6 answers
You start with 32 pairs. The first contest has 16 matches which yield 16 winners. The second match has 8 matches which yield 8 winners. Keep this pattern going to see if your answer is right.
You could interpret the second question in the way you did. Each golfer played at least one match. However, the question may be asking how many total matches there were before a winner was declared.
1st match -- 32 pairs, 16 matches and 16 winners
2nd match -- 16 pairs, 8 matches and 8 winners
3rd match -- 8 pairs, 4 matches and 4 winners
4th match -- 4 pairs, 4 matches and 2 winners
5th match -- 2 pairs, 1 match and 1 winner
Thanks for catching my mistake. That's why it's always a good idea to make sure you understand an answer, no matter who tells you differently.
Emily