12 cubes

10th October 2003, 1:00am
a. Get 12 cubes. Put them in 3 piles.

The pile with the most cubes must have 4 cubes more than the pile with the fewest cubes.

b. Get 12 cubes. Put them in 4 piles.

The pile with the most cubes must have twice as many cubes as the pile with the fewest cubes.

c. Get 12 cubes. Put them in 3 piles.

The pile with the fewest cubes must have 6 fewer cubes than the pile with the most cubes.

Brainteaser solutions

12 cubes

A 2 cubes, 4 cubes, 6 cubes

B 2 cubes, 3 cubes, 3 cubes, 4 cubes

C 1 cube, 4 cubes, 7 cubes or 2 cubes, 2 cubes, 8 cubes