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Re: the hourglass problem

Cross-posted to 4 groups.

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On Sat, 31 Dec 2011, RichD wrote:

> You're given a 7 minute, and a 4 minute, sand
> hourglass.  Measure a 9 minute interval, in the first
> 9 minutes.  (no 'setup' period)
>
Can't be done without a setup.

> So, given hourglasses of n and m minutes:
>
> 1)  Can you devise a formula which generates a list of
>  all possible intervals produced by them?
>
> 2)  And an algorithm, which generates the interval,
>  for any given number on the list.
>
> Of course, this is solvable via brute force, but we
> want something efficient.
>
> PS The problem stated above is a Google interview question!
> Which lowers my estimate of their intellectual prowess.

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the hourglass problem RichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> - 2011-12-31 18:03 -0800
  Re: the hourglass problem William Elliot <marsh@rdrop.com> - 2011-12-31 19:21 -0800
    Re: the hourglass problem Dave Dodson <dave_and_darla@Juno.com> - 2011-12-31 19:41 -0800
      Re: the hourglass problem William Elliot <marsh@rdrop.com> - 2012-01-01 19:48 -0800
        Re: the hourglass problem Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2012-01-01 20:44 -0800
          Re: the hourglass problem William Elliot <marsh@rdrop.com> - 2012-01-01 23:08 -0800
            Re: the hourglass problem Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2012-01-02 07:55 -0800
              Re: the hourglass problem Dr Nick <3-nospam@temporary-address.org.uk> - 2012-01-02 16:17 +0000
                Re: the hourglass problem Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2012-01-03 03:37 -0600
    Re: the hourglass problem Remysun <remysun2000@yahoo.com> - 2012-01-02 17:10 -0800
      Re: the hourglass problem "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2012-01-03 01:12 +0000
  Re: the hourglass problem root <NoEMail@home.org> - 2012-01-01 05:51 +0000
    Re: the hourglass problem William Elliot <marsh@rdrop.com> - 2012-01-01 20:04 -0800
      Re: the hourglass problem Duncan Booth <duncan.booth@invalid.invalid> - 2012-01-02 11:42 +0000
    Re: the hourglass problem RichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> - 2012-01-03 15:05 -0800
      Re: the hourglass problem Daniel Pitts <newsgroup.nospam@virtualinfinity.net> - 2012-01-03 15:19 -0800
        Re: the hourglass problem PT <ptanenbaum@consultant.com> - 2012-01-04 12:28 -0800
          Re: the hourglass problem Daniel Pitts <newsgroup.nospam@virtualinfinity.net> - 2012-01-04 13:44 -0800
        Re: the hourglass problem Dave Dodson <dave_and_darla@Juno.com> - 2012-01-04 22:55 -0800
          Re: the hourglass problem Daniel Pitts <newsgroup.nospam@virtualinfinity.net> - 2012-01-04 23:55 -0800
            Re: the hourglass problem "Harry Vaderchi" <admin@127.0.0.1> - 2012-01-05 10:06 +0000
              Re: the hourglass problem "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2012-01-05 13:44 +0000
                Re: the hourglass problem Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2012-01-05 08:13 -0800
                Re: the hourglass problem Daniel Pitts <newsgroup.nospam@virtualinfinity.net> - 2012-01-05 11:55 -0800
                Re: the hourglass problem JohnF <john@please.see.sig.for.email.com> - 2012-01-06 04:40 +0000
            Re: the hourglass problem Dave <dave_and_darla@Juno.com> - 2012-01-05 15:37 -0800
              Re: the hourglass problem Daniel Pitts <newsgroup.nospam@virtualinfinity.net> - 2012-01-05 16:02 -0800
  Re: the hourglass problem Duncan Booth <duncan.booth@invalid.invalid> - 2012-01-02 11:50 +0000
  Re: the hourglass problem Frederick Williams <freddywilliams@btinternet.com> - 2012-01-02 17:18 +0000
    Re: the hourglass problem msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) - 2012-01-02 17:40 -0600
      Re: the hourglass problem RichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> - 2012-01-02 17:37 -0800
        Re: the hourglass problem msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) - 2012-01-02 23:45 -0600
        Re: the hourglass problem "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2012-01-03 10:06 +0100
        Re: the hourglass problem Thomas Mlynarczyk <thomas@mlynarczyk-webdesign.de> - 2012-01-03 12:51 +0100
          Re: the hourglass problem Nicolas Neuss <lastname@scipolis.de> - 2012-01-03 18:07 +0100
            Re: the hourglass problem Thomas Mlynarczyk <thomas@mlynarczyk-webdesign.de> - 2012-01-03 21:58 +0100
        Re: the hourglass problem Frederick Williams <freddywilliams@btinternet.com> - 2012-01-03 13:22 +0000
      Re: the hourglass problem "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2012-01-03 12:59 +0000
    Re: the hourglass problem Thomas Mlynarczyk <thomas@mlynarczyk-webdesign.de> - 2012-01-03 12:47 +0100
  Re: the hourglass problem Frederick Williams <freddywilliams@btinternet.com> - 2012-01-05 14:09 +0000
    Re: the hourglass problem Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2012-01-05 08:17 -0800
      Re: the hourglass problem Frederick Williams <freddywilliams@btinternet.com> - 2012-01-05 16:27 +0000
      Re: the hourglass problem Daniel Pitts <newsgroup.nospam@virtualinfinity.net> - 2012-01-05 11:57 -0800
      Re: the hourglass problem JohnF <john@please.see.sig.for.email.com> - 2012-01-06 06:42 +0000

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