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A new game show on TV has 100 boxes numbered 1, 2,..., 100 in a row, each containing a mystery prize. The prizes are items of different types, a, b, c, ..., in decreasing order of value. The most expensive item is of type a, a diamond ring, and there is exactly one of these. You are told that the number of items at least doubles as you move to the next type. For example, there would be at least twice as many items of type b as of type a, at least twice as many items of type c as of type b and so on. There is no particular order in which the prizes are placed in the boxes.

You ask for the type of item in box 45. Instead of being given a direct answer, you are told that there are 31 items of the same type as box 45 in boxes 1 to 44 and 43 items of the same type as box 45 in boxes 46 to 100.

What is the maximum possible number of different types of items?

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 4
Slide 1/2

Understanding the set :-

This is a minima maxima + quantitative set :

Here you have 100 boxes and a mystery prices in every box, named as a, b, c...

Also, it is given that, there is price of item a is highest , then prices b, then price c, and so on...

Price a - a diamond ring is only in one of the box,

and other prices are atleast double in quantity of previous item i.e.,

we know item a is only 1 , then item b will be atleast two and item c will again be atleast double of item b.

Now, lets try to solve the set with the given information -

Now as per the additional information given in the question, there are a total of 75 boxes in which the same item is given

(one in box number 45 and 31 items in 1 - 44 boxes and 43 items in 46 - 100 boxes).

Now the remaining 25 items has to be maximized in terms of variety.

There is 1 item of type A, so let there be 2 items of type B, 4 items of type C, 8 items of type D.

Now after that if try to have 32 items of type E, the total items become more than 100.

Thus there can be only 4 more types of items other than the one, which has been used in box number 45.

So the total different types of items at the most can be 5.

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