4 thieves enter a bakery and stole bread one after the other. Each
one took half of the total number of breads+ half a loaf. If 3 breads
were remaining what is the total number of breads.

• x/2+x/4+x/8+x/16+2+3=x
  (15x/16)+5=x
  x=80
• 10 years agoHelpfull: Yes(31) No(14)
• let total bread be x
  x(1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 )+3=x
  therefore x=48
  but there are 4 half loafs of bread which are took by theives as well.
  so there will be 50 total number of breads.
  Ans=50
  
• 10 years agoHelpfull: Yes(19) No(9)
• x/2+x/4+x/8+x/16+3=x
  x=48
  
• 10 years agoHelpfull: Yes(15) No(13)
• 48
  let total bread be x
  x(1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 )+3=x
  therefore x=48
• 10 years agoHelpfull: Yes(11) No(5)
• three were remainiing at last so,
  move in reverse order
  3+(1/2) of loaf = half of total available for 4th theif
  hence total available ofr 4th theif will be =(3.5)*2=7
  for 3rd thief = 7.5 * 2 = 15
  for 2nd thief =15.5 * 2 =31
  for 1st thief = 31.5 * 2
  hence total at begining = 63 is the answer .
  
  
• 8 years agoHelpfull: Yes(8) No(2)
• Let no of breads initially are x.
  Then,
  x-(x/2 + x/4 + x/8 + x/16) = 3
  x- 15x/16 =3
  x/16 =3
  x=48
• 9 years agoHelpfull: Yes(4) No(5)
• solution are a bit confusing.. so tell whether its 48 or 80??
  
• 10 years agoHelpfull: Yes(3) No(4)
• (x/2+0.5)+(x/4+0.5)+(x/8+0.5)+(x/16+0.5) + 3 = x
  where x= total no of bread
  0.5= half of the loaf of bread
• 9 years agoHelpfull: Yes(3) No(2)
• let the total nu. of breads is x
  when 1st theaf ..remaining breads will be x/2 and then 2nd will take half and half nu. remain i.e. x/4 and so on upto 4th and thus x/16
  and as given remaining is 3 so x/16=3 ans. is 48
  
• 10 years agoHelpfull: Yes(1) No(5)
• 53, work backwords
• 10 years agoHelpfull: Yes(1) No(4)
• http://www.allinterview.com/showanswers/128721/4-thieves-rob-bakery-breadone-after-other-each-thief-takes-half-present-bread-if.html Ans is48
• 7 years agoHelpfull: Yes(0) No(0)
• Ans is 60
  1st pick half..remains 30
  2nd pick half..remains 15
  3rd pick 7.5 and a half loaf..(pick 8)..remains 7
  4th pick 3.5 and a half loaf..(pick 4)...remains 3
• 7 years agoHelpfull: Yes(0) No(0)