Math is Fun
Bookmark Add to favorites
link Link here
Math is Fun HomeHome





Top-rated teacher Web sites rated by teacher usage
Edunet site of the week January 2001
Maths Is Fun is ICRA Registered

Copyright © 2009
MathsIsFun.com

Matching Socks - Solution

Puzzles -> Logic Puzzles

Matching SocksThe Puzzle: You are about to leave for holiday, but you forgot socks! You race back to your room, but all the lights are off, so you can't see the color of the socks.

Never mind, because you remember that in your drawer there are ten pairs of white socks, ten pairs of black socks, and eleven pairs of blue socks, but they are all mixed up.

How many of your socks do you need to take before you can be sure to have at last one matching pair?


.
.
.
.
(Scroll down if you really want
to see the Solution ...)

.
.
.
.
.
.

The Solution . . .

The answer is four. Although there are many socks in the drawer, there are only three colors, so if you take four socks then you are guaranteed to have at least one matching pair.


Discuss this puzzle at the Math is Fun Forum