document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1106130>Question 1106130</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A lady has 55 earrings in her jewel box: 21 pair of platinum earrings, 15 pair of gold earrings and 17 pair of silver earrings. The lights went out and she is completely in the dark. How many earrings must she take out to make 100% certain she has a pair of gold earrings? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #721090 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ikleyn><B>ikleyn(52863)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ikleyn><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=ikleyn><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=721090\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> .<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A lady has 55 earrings in her jewel box: 21 pair of platinum earrings, 15 pair of gold earrings and 17 pair of silver earrings. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "The lights went out and she is completely in the dark. How many earrings must she take out to make 100% certain she has a pair of gold earrings?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "1. &nbsp;Everything is OK with your problem, &nbsp;except one thing:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The number &nbsp;55&nbsp; is not equal to the sum of &nbsp;21, &nbsp;15 &nbsp;and &nbsp;17, &nbsp;as one could expect . . . \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2. &nbsp;The standard, &nbsp;usual and traditional form/way of presenting the solution to this / (to such) &nbsp;problem/problems are &nbsp;<U>THESE three lines</U>:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<PRE STYLE=\"white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: -moz-pre-wrap; white-space: -pre-wrap; white-space: -o-pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;\">\r\n" );
document.write( "    In the worst case, in the dark, she will take out  21 pair of platinum earrings and 17 pair of silver earrings first, \r\n" );
document.write( "    i.e.   21 + 17 = 38 items,  in all.\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "\r\n" );
document.write( "    But as soon as she takes out the 39-th item, she will have the gold earrings inevitably, making 100% certain. \r\n" );
document.write( "</PRE>\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );