Question


The integers 1,2,.........64 are written on a blackboard. The following operation is repeated 63 times: Any 2 numbers are chosen out of these 64 numbers and replaced with a number equal to 1 minus the sum of 2 numbers. What will be the number left over on the board after 63 operations?


Options:
A .   2017
B .   1009
C .   505
D .   253
E .   2016
Answer: Option A
:
A

Option (a)


They key here is any number, so basically choose the easiest pair of numbers and solve the question. My choice will be the numbers distanced equally from the middle value such as  1 & 64, 2 & 63  etc. All of them will be replaced by 64. So after the 1st32 operations, you have 32 64s left. The pattern will look like this:-


After 32 32 64s


After 16 more 16 127s


After 8 more 8 253s


After 4 more 4 505s


After 2 more 2 1009s


After 1 more 1 2017


Total number of operations = 32 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 63



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