An apple seller is hosting a competition. He offers 1000 apples and 10 boxes to the people who pass by. The challenge is to put those 1000 apples in the 10 boxes in such a manner that if he asks for any amount of apples, the person is able to directly give him the boxes or a combination of boxes. If the person can do it, he promises to give a thousand apples for free.
If you happen to pass by the apple seller, will you be able to win a thousand apples?
A geometric progression is what will come into play in solving this puzzle.
Box 1 = 1
Box 2 = 2
Box 3 = 4
Box 4 = 8
Box 5 = 16
Box 6 = 32
Box 7 = 64
Box 8 = 128
Box 9 = 256
For the tenth box, we will simply keep the number of apples left.
Box 10 = 489.
You may try yourself and you will be able to simply give the box for any amount of apples.
