Bite-sized brain teaser to solve in a minute or less.
The Gold Bar
Category: Logic, Strategy
You hire a worker and agree to pay them 1⁄7 of a gold bar each day for a seven‑day job. You can make only two cuts in the gold bar (and can’t re‑fuse pieces). How do you cut the bar - and schedule the daily payments - so they get exactly 1⁄7 of the gold bar each day?
Solution
First cut: Separate a 1⁄7 piece.
Second cut: Separate a 2⁄7 piece from the remaining 6⁄7 bar, leaving a 4⁄7 piece.
Payment schedule:
Day 1: Give the 1⁄7 piece.
Day 2: Take back the 1⁄7 piece and give the 2⁄7 piece.
Day 3: Give back the 1⁄7 piece (2⁄7 + 1⁄7 = 3⁄7).
Day 4: Take back both pieces and give the 4⁄7 piece.
Day 5: Give back the 1⁄7 piece (4⁄7 + 1⁄7 = 5⁄7).
Day 6: Take back the 1⁄7 piece, give back the 2⁄7 piece (4⁄7 + 2⁄7 = 6⁄7).
