Puzzle: You have got someone working for you for five days and a gold bar to pay him. You must give them a piece of gold at the end of every day. What are the fewest number of cuts to the bar of gold that will allow you to pay him 1/5th each day?
Answer: 2 cuts.
Solution:

Explanation 1:
After two cut there are three pieces of [1 unit and two 2 units] or [two 1 units and one 3 unit]. Now perform the following transactions.
[1 unit and two 2 units]
Days |
Gold Bars(Vendor) |
Gold Bars(Worker) |
Comments |
Day 0 |
[1, 2, 2] |
[] |
Initially Worker have 0 Gold Bars unit. |
Day 1 |
[2, 2] |
[1] |
Pay the worker Gold Bar with 1 unit. |
Day 2 |
[1, 2] |
[2] |
Pay the worker Gold with 2 units and take back the gold bar with 1 unit. |
Day 3 |
[2] |
[1, 2] |
Pay the worker Gold Bar with 1 unit. |
Day 4 |
[1] |
[2, 2] |
Pay the worker Gold with 2 units and take back the gold bar with 1 unit. |
Day 5 |
[] |
[1, 2, 2] |
Pay the worker with only left Gold Bar with 1 unit. |
[two 1 units and one 3 unit]
Days |
Gold Bars(Vendor) |
Gold Bars(Worker) |
Comments |
Day 0 |
[1, 1, 3] |
[] |
Initially Worker have 0 Gold Bars unit. |
Day 1 |
[1, 3] |
[1] |
Pay the worker Gold Bar with 1 unit. |
Day 2 |
[3] |
[1,1] |
Pay the worker Gold with other 1 units. |
Day 3 |
[1,1] |
[3] |
Pay the worker Gold Bar with 3 unit and take back all the gold bar with 1 unit. |
Day 4 |
[1] |
[1, 3] |
Pay the worker Gold with 1 unit. |
Day 5 |
[] |
[1, 1, 3] |
Pay the worker with only left Gold Bar with 1 unit. |
Similar Puzzle: Pay an employee using a 7 units gold rod?
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Last Updated :
19 Jan, 2023
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