Question

There are 22 gloves in a drawer: 5 pairs of red gloves, 4 pairs of yellow, and 2 pairs of green. You select the gloves in the dark and can check them only after a selection has been made. What is the smallest number of gloves you need to select to have at least one matching pair in the best case?

Answer 1

Answer:

Best case = 2 gloves

Given Information:

Red gloves = 5 pairs

Yellow gloves = 4 pairs

Green gloves = 2 pairs

smallest number of gloves you need to select to have at least one matching pair in the best case = ?

Explanation:

How many gloves do you need to make one matching pair?

2

Yes, you are right. 2 gloves makes a matching pair and it is the smallest number of gloves you need to select to have at least one matching pair.

But what about worst case?

lets say

you tried all 5 red gloves either all of them were left or right

then you tried 4 yellow gloves either all of them were left or right

then you tried 2 green gloves either all of them were left or right

Now all the left or right gloves are tried (5 + 4 + 2 = 11) and the 12th one will definitely be either matching red, yellow or green.

Therefore, in the worst case scenario, the smallest number of gloves you need to select to have at least one matching pair is 12.