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A Publication Featuring The Information
Services Technology of Maine State Government
| Volume V, Issue 12 | December 2002 |
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Mrs. Jones was out with her twins when they spied a bubble gum machine. The boys teased for gum but insisted they wanted the same color. All Mrs. Jones could see were a few red and a few white gum balls, but couldn’t see the gum ball that was ready to come out next. For a chance at the pizza, how many gum balls must Mrs. Jones be prepared to buy to assure that she gets two of the same color?
Mrs. Smith comes to a different gum ball machine with her triplets. Again, the triplets all want the same color. This time, though, the machine is nearly full of a mixture of red, white, and blue gum balls. For no prize at all, how many gum balls must Mrs. Smith be prepared to buy to assure getting three of one color?
Please e-mail Lester Dickey with your answer and your name, phone number, and the organization for which you work. Or call Barbara Buck at 624-9501. The winner will be drawn from all the correct entries and will receive a FREE pizza, either from CJ’s Pizza or from the EDOC Cafeteria. All answers must be in no later than the 14th of the month.
Last month's challenge brought 9 answers, with 8 correct. The winner, chosen by random drawing, is Michael St. John of DHS/DoTS.
The answer to last month’s Challenge is: 1) a=6, b=4, and 2) a=9, b=5
