2 Really Hard Questions

[muchspl2]

1. There are 5 pirates, ordered "5" through "1".

The pirates are maximally greedy.

There are 100 coins.

The highest-numbered pirate gets to determine a coin distribution: assigning a specific number of coins to each specific pirate.

All pirates then vote on accepting the distribution.

If at least half of the pirates agree to accept that distribution, the pirates go on their way.

If the vote doesn't carry at least 50% of the votes, the highest-numbered pirate is killed, and the process is repeated with the remaining pirates.

You are the 5th pirate: how do you distribute the coins?


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2. You have a 5 lane race track.

You have 25 runners.

A race only determines relative ordering (who came in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th), not individual times.

What is the minimal number of races you must run to determine the 3 fastest runners?

[muchspl2]

these are M$ interview questions

[4th gen]

Originally posted by muchspl2@24 April 2004 - 18:54
1. There are 5 pirates, ordered "5" through "1".

The pirates are maximally greedy.

There are 100 coins.

The highest-numbered pirate gets to determine a coin distribution: assigning a specific number of coins to each specific pirate.

All pirates then vote on accepting the distribution.

If at least half of the pirates agree to accept that distribution, the pirates go on their way.

If the vote doesn't carry at least 50% of the votes, the highest-numbered pirate is killed, and the process is repeated with the remaining pirates.

You are the 5th pirate: how do you distribute the coins?

Half to the first pirate, half to the second and none to yourself. Presumably you and the other two will vote happily, giving a 3-2 majority?

[sexfem]

Muchspl2.

Runners: six races would determine first three places. But not necessary the fastest runner.

With the runners you cant determine who is the fastest runner without timing them. The winnere of race three for example could come last in the final race. Yet in race three he could have broke the world record.

[muchspl2]

nope and nope

[4th gen]

Originally posted by muchspl2@24 April 2004 - 19:12
nope and nope

The ordering is 1->5 not 5->1, so you give it all to yourself?

[sexfem]

Originally posted by muchspl2@24 April 2004 - 20:12
nope and nope

If it is a catch question then it is one race. Probably over 5000m.

[4th gen]

Only one race, there are 3 fastest people in that race?

[Peerzy]

6 Races,

5 races with 5 people each, and the person who comes first in each race will race in one last race, the top three people win.

[J'Pol]

First

33
33
33
1
0

Should guarantee 3 votes and be acceptable.



Second

If times are not measured then 6 races.

5 races to decide the 5 fastest.

6th race decides the top 3 places, of the 5 winners.