Engineering News
January 26, 2004, Vol. 74, No. 2S

Brainteaser Answer

Mrs. Puffem decided to quit smoking after finishing the 27 cigarettes she had left. It was her habit to smoke two thirds of each cigarette. She discovered that with some tape she could stick three butts together to make a new cigarette. With 27 cigarettes how many cigarettes can she smoke before she gives it up forever?

Answer: After smoking 27 cigarettes, she patched together the butts to make 9 more. These 9 cigarettes left enough butts for 3 more smokes, then with the 3 final butts she made one final cigarette. Total: 40 cigarettes.

The winner is ME senior Andrew Gardner.


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