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Putnam Problem Set 3 September 8th
Putnam Problem Set 3 September 8th
September 8th
1. (YZ) Meet Alice. She has a number stuck to her forehead. Meet Bob.
He has one, too. They are aware that their numbers are consecutive positive
integers, and can clearly see the other’s number, but do not know what their
own is. YET.
Alice says “Don’t know yet”
Bob says “Don’t know yet”
Alice says “Don’t know yet”
The conversation continues in this fashion for a while until finally
Alice says “I KNOW WHAT MY NUMBER IS!”
Bob says “YEAH! AND MINE’S 295!”
What’s Alice’s number, how many times did she say “Don’t know yet” before
figuring it out?
2. (M) There are three switches in a hallway. One switch controls a light
fixture in a room at the far end of the hall. The door to the room is closed,
and you can’t see whether the light is on or off. You need to find out which
of the three switches controls the light. How can you be certain of finding
out, making just one trip to the room?
3. You have 8 pencils which all look alike. One of the pencils is special and
weighs more than the other seven (which all have the same weight). How
can you use a balance two times to find the special pencil?
6. (P 1995 A2)ZFor what pairs (a, b ) ofqpositive real numbers does the
∞ q√ √ √ √
improper integral x+a− x− x − x − b dx converge?
b