Your drawer has 5 pairs of black socks, 4 pairs of gray socks, 2 pairs of white socks, 1 pair of brown socks, and 1 pair of blue socks. the lights are out, and you're in a rush to leave. what is the smallest number of socks you should pull out so that you can be assured that you will have at least one pair of matching socks? note that there are no left or right socks and two socks of the same color will be considered matching.

Question

Mathematics

Rowan Brandt

28 November, 15:00

Your drawer has 5 pairs of black socks, 4 pairs of gray socks, 2 pairs of white socks, 1 pair of brown socks, and 1 pair of blue socks. the lights are out, and you're in a rush to leave. what is the smallest number of socks you should pull out so that you can be assured that you will have at least one pair of matching socks? note that there are no left or right socks and two socks of the same color will be considered matching.

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Answers (1)

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Karlee Wilkerson · Answer 1

5 pairs of black socks*2 because it’s a pair = 10 socks

4 pairs of grey socks*2=8

2 pairs of white socks*2=4

1 pair of brown socks*2=2

1 pair of blue socks*2=2

10 socks+8 socks+4 socks+2 socks + 2 socks=26 socks in total

26/2=13+1 because you need to be sure you get one pair of socks. The smallest amount of socks you would have to grab to get at least one matching pair is 14 socks.