Question 199972: Consider the set of northwestern states or provinces {Montana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Alaska, British Columbia, Alberta}. If a person chooses one element, show that in three yes or no questions, we can determine the element.
Thank you for your help.
Answer by RAY100(1637)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! 1st question,,,is it Contintal US ?
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If YES,, 2nd question,, is it the capital ? ,,,,,,,,,,,if NO skip below
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If YES, Washington is answer in 2 questions
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If NO,,, 3rd question,,, is it Montana ?
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if YES,,, Montana is answer in 3 questions
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If No,,,, Idaho is answer in 3 questions
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IF NO to 1st question, 2nd question, is it Alaska?
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if YES, Alaska is answer in 2 questions
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if NO, 3 rd question,,,, is it BC
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if YES , answer is BC in 3 questions.
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if NO, answer is Alberta in 3 questions
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Did all this work and lost Oregon in the mix (did not erase as might be useful)
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Let me try ANOTHER WAY, basically we have 7 choices, to guess the correct one with 3 questions
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to save writing let us just use 1 to 7 as our options.
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The first question is,,,,is option = or > 4
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if NO,,,see below
if yes, then ask 2nd question, ,,,,,,,,,,, is option >5
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If YES ask 3rd question,,,, is it 6,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,if NO,,ask 3rd question, is it 4
if YES , option 6 is selection,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,if YES, option 4 is selection
if NO,,,option 7 is selection,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,if NO, option 5 is selection
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If answer to question 1 is NO, ask 2nd question, is it 2
if YES, option 2 is selection,
if NO, ask question 3, is it 1
If YES is the answer, option 1 is selection
If NO is answer, option 3 is selection
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Rather than go back and use locations, just set up substitution list ,,#1 = Washington, #2 = Oregon etc, and then substitute back after you get answer.
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