Comments on: Egg Basket math puzzle

By: caleb

caleb — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:04:51 +0000

2 and Zero

By: RK

RK — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:16:09 +0000

as we can see from some of the responses submitted above, this one was a bit tricky. Several very good explanations are given for the answer, which is 5 & 7

By: Yodhey

Yodhey — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:27:16 +0000

according to the question, if the greater no of eggs is say x and lesser no of eggs is say y, then two equations are formed:
x+1 = 2(y-1) and
x-1 = y+1
using these we get,
x = 7 and y = 5
thats it………..

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 07:02:25 +0000

7&5…

By: Evie

Evie — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 05:02:52 +0000

One basket 1 contains 4 eggs & basket 2 has 5 eggs

By: rajjo

rajjo — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 04:19:11 +0000

1st child had 7 eggs and 2nd child had 5 eggs

By: nimrod

nimrod — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:04:23 +0000

i haven’t thought it through that much, but i think it’s 7 and 5..

By: Shanelly

Shanelly — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:32:21 +0000

I did trial & error, knowing that the total number of eggs have to be an even number if they can have the equal number of eggs

I got 5 & 7 =12
The mean one who wanted to have double would have had the 7, turned into 8 which would be twice as much as 4

Then, if the mean one actually gave one away, it would be 6 and 6 which would be equal.

By: Mihret K

Mihret K — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:14:05 +0000

Simple algebra.

x= eggs of person A
y= eggs of person B

1) y+1=2(x-1)
2)y-1=x+1

—Compare them and you get:

x= 5 eggs
y= 7 eggs

That’s it

By: ian

ian — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:11:38 +0000

5 and 4 eggs

By: Davidmcd

Davidmcd — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:07:05 +0000

answer is 7 and 5…..girl with 7 takes 1 egg she gets 8 the other girl left with 4 i.e. double, and if the girl with 5 takes 1 egg she gets 6 the other girl left with 6 i.e. equal! easy……..no it was a bit tricky at first!

By: BONNIE

BONNIE — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:27:06 +0000

one girl had 4 eggs and the other had 5 eggs

By: Riyad

Riyad — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:47:37 +0000

One child has x eggs, other has y eggs

1. y gives 1 egg to x
x+1 = 2(y-1) (DOUBLE)

2. x gives 1 egg to y
x-1 = y+1 (EQUAL)

Simplify and we get
y=5, x=7

Q.E.D.

By: suineg

suineg — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:00:03 +0000

I think one answer can be: child A= 7, child B= 5
explanation:
1) give 1 more and i have the double of yours : A=8, B=4
2)No, give one more and we shall be equal: A=6, B=6

Equations:
from 1) A + 1 = 2(B – 1)
from 2) A – 1 = B + 1
—>B=5—> A=7

Lateral thinking solution i guess(kidding): child A =111, child B=11 give 1 of yours and i shall double the number you have: “1111″, No give one of yours and we should equal: 11-11=0 (definition of equality)

By: MoysieGT

MoysieGT — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:01:45 +0000

I think its 7 and 5?

7+1=8, 5-1=4. 8 is double 4 (8 is 2/3rds of the total)
7-1= 6, 5+1=6 Both have equal amounts.
Both numbers are odd. The total number of eggs is even
The total number of eggs can be equaly divisable by 3 without any fractions
etc

Some of my workings are shown bellow

Where it says “Give me one of your eggs, and then I shall have double the number you have.” this indicates this person would then have 2/3rds of the eggs. Also this indicates that this child must have had an odd number of eggs, and now has an even number of eggs. As half of 5 does not go unless half eggs are involved.

For the other side of this where it says “No”, said the other; “give me one of yours, and then we shall have equal”. Indicates the total number of eggs must be an even.

Both children MUST have an odd number of eggs. Child 1 because if given 1 more egg from child 2, would have double that of child 2. Half of an odd number would leave a spare half egg. (Assuming no half eggs are present in this puzzle).
Child 2 because if given 1 more egg from child 1, both would have equal numbers of eggs. sounless half eggs are involved the total number of eggs are even.

The answer could not be 1 and 2 because
1: the total eggs are odd, and
2: subtract 1 from 1 and you would have 0 which you cannot have twice as much as 0.
3: both numbers are not odd

The answer could not be 2 and 4 because
1: Both numbers are even
2: subtract 1 from 2 and add it to 4 gives 5, which is not double 1.
3: 5 is an odd number
etc

The answer could not be 3 and 6 because
1: the total of 3+6 is odd
2: 6 is an even number
3: subtract 1 from3 and add it to 6. 7 is not double 2
4: 7 is an odd number
5: subtract 1 from 6 and add it to 3. 5 is not equal to 4
6: 5 in an odd number
etc

The answer COULD be 5 and 7 becaude
1: both numbers are odd
2: Add 5 and 7 together you get a total of 12 which is even.
3: 12 is equaly divisable by 3 without any fractions.
4: subtract 1 from 5 and add it to 7 which gived you 8 and 4. 8 is double 4
5: 8 is even
6: 8 is 2/3rds of 12
etc