The Least Number of Locks to Open

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 103 views

Introduction

Mathematical puzzles often involve clever problem-solving and logical thinking. In this article, we will delve into a classic puzzle that requires us to think creatively and apply mathematical concepts to find the solution. The puzzle involves a locked box with 4 locked containers, each containing 5 locked boxes, and each locked box holding 6 diamonds. Our goal is to determine the least number of locks that need to be opened to obtain more than 50 diamonds.

Understanding the Puzzle

Let's break down the puzzle to understand its structure. We have a locked box with 4 locked containers inside. Each of these containers has 5 locked boxes, and each of these locked boxes contains 6 diamonds. This means that the total number of diamonds in the locked box is 4 (containers) * 5 (locked boxes per container) * 6 (diamonds per locked box) = 120 diamonds.

The Goal: More Than 50 Diamonds

Our objective is to find the least number of locks that need to be opened to obtain more than 50 diamonds. Since we already have 120 diamonds, we need to find the minimum number of locks that need to be opened to access more than 50 diamonds.

Mathematical Approach

To solve this puzzle, we need to think about the minimum number of locks that need to be opened to access the diamonds. Let's consider the following:

If we open the first lock, we will have access to 5 locked boxes, each containing 6 diamonds. This means we will have 5 * 6 = 30 diamonds.
If we open the second lock, we will have access to 10 locked boxes, each containing 6 diamonds. This means we will have 10 * 6 = 60 diamonds.
If we open the third lock, we will have access to 15 locked boxes, each containing 6 diamonds. This means we will have 15 * 6 = 90 diamonds.
If we open the fourth lock, we will have access to 20 locked boxes, each containing 6 diamonds. This means we will have 20 * 6 = 120 diamonds.

Conclusion

From the above calculations, we can see that opening the first three locks will give us a total of 30 + 60 + 90 = 180 diamonds. However, our goal is to obtain more than 50 diamonds, and we already have 120 diamonds. Therefore, we need to open at least one more lock to access the remaining diamonds.

The Least Number of Locks to Open

Since we already have 120 diamonds, we need to open at least one more lock to access the remaining diamonds. The next lock will give us access to 20 more locked boxes, each containing 6 diamonds. This means we will have 20 * 6 = 120 more diamonds. However, we need to open only one more lock to access these diamonds.

Final Answer

Therefore, the least number of locks that need to be opened to obtain more than 50 diamonds is 4.

Discussion

This puzzle requires us to think creatively and apply mathematical concepts to find the solution. We need to consider the minimum number of locks that need to be opened to access the diamonds and calculate the total number of diamonds that can be obtained by opening each lock. This puzzle is a great example of how mathematical thinking can be applied to real-world problems.

References

[1] "Mathematical Puzzles" by Martin Gardner
[2] "The Art of Problem-Solving" by Paul Zeitz
[3] "Mathematical Thinking" by Keith Devlin

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored a classic puzzle involving a locked box with 4 locked containers, each containing 5 locked boxes, and each locked box holding 6 diamonds. Our goal was to determine the least number of locks that need to be opened to obtain more than 50 diamonds. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this puzzle.

Q&A

Q: What is the total number of diamonds in the locked box?

A: The total number of diamonds in the locked box is 4 (containers) * 5 (locked boxes per container) * 6 (diamonds per locked box) = 120 diamonds.

Q: How many locks need to be opened to access the first 30 diamonds?

A: To access the first 30 diamonds, we need to open the first lock. This will give us access to 5 locked boxes, each containing 6 diamonds.

Q: How many locks need to be opened to access the first 60 diamonds?

A: To access the first 60 diamonds, we need to open the first two locks. This will give us access to 10 locked boxes, each containing 6 diamonds.

Q: How many locks need to be opened to access the first 90 diamonds?

A: To access the first 90 diamonds, we need to open the first three locks. This will give us access to 15 locked boxes, each containing 6 diamonds.

Q: How many locks need to be opened to access the first 120 diamonds?

A: To access the first 120 diamonds, we need to open the first four locks. This will give us access to 20 locked boxes, each containing 6 diamonds.

Q: What is the least number of locks that need to be opened to obtain more than 50 diamonds?

A: Since we already have 120 diamonds, we need to open at least one more lock to access the remaining diamonds. The next lock will give us access to 20 more locked boxes, each containing 6 diamonds. This means we will have 20 * 6 = 120 more diamonds. However, we need to open only one more lock to access these diamonds.

Q: Why do we need to open only one more lock to access the remaining diamonds?

A: This is because the next lock will give us access to 20 more locked boxes, each containing 6 diamonds. This means we will have 20 * 6 = 120 more diamonds. Since we already have 120 diamonds, we need to open only one more lock to access these diamonds.

Q: What is the final answer to the puzzle?

A: The least number of locks that need to be opened to obtain more than 50 diamonds is 4.