Challenge 08: Confetti Problem
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Challenge 08, Part 1:Challenge 08, Part 2: |
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Video Responses
Spoiler Alert! Video responses include explanations of how to solve the challenge problem. We recommend that you resist the temptation to watch response videos until after you have explored the challenge individually or with a problem solving team!
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Andrew's solution to Part 1.
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Andrew's solution to Part 2.
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Andrew's solution to Part 2 (continued).
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Follow-up Challenges
- Note that neither of the paper-ripping methods allows us to create exactly 5 pieces. What numbers of pieces are possible (or impossible) to create using our two methods? How do you know?
- Suppose we change the procedure from Part 1 to be: "Start with a piece of paper. At each step, choose a piece and tear it into 4 pieces." Could we create exactly 2014 pieces? What numbers are possible or impossible to create?
- What if the procedure were to choose a piece and tear it into 10 pieces? N pieces?
