Difference between revisions of "Multiple locks"

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==Puzzle==
 
==Puzzle==
  
You belong to a club that has accumulated valuable jewelry. The treasure is kept in a chest. For security reasons, you want at least two of your 10 club members present when the chest is open. To insure this, you put multiple locks on the chest and distribute keys to members so that no one member can open the chest, but any two members can. Each lock has a different key, but you can make several copies of the same key to distribute to the club members. What is the fewest number of locks and keys that you will need?
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You belong to a club that has accumulated valuable jewelry. The treasure is kept in a chest. For security reasons, you want at least two of your 10 club members present when the chest is open. To ensure this, you put multiple locks on the chest and distribute keys to members so that no one member can open the chest, but any two members can. Each lock has a different key, but you can make several copies of the same key to distribute to the club members. What is the fewest number of locks and keys that you will need?
  
 
==Help==
 
==Help==

Revision as of 19:00, 20 October 2010

Puzzle

You belong to a club that has accumulated valuable jewelry. The treasure is kept in a chest. For security reasons, you want at least two of your 10 club members present when the chest is open. To ensure this, you put multiple locks on the chest and distribute keys to members so that no one member can open the chest, but any two members can. Each lock has a different key, but you can make several copies of the same key to distribute to the club members. What is the fewest number of locks and keys that you will need?

Help

References

Problem Solving by Thomas DeFranco and Charles Vinsonhaler.