Number of Chickens Sold

The solution to the Chicken Puzzle

As we know that the fourth customer bought only one chicken from a total lot of chickens. So here is the method to find the total number of chickens.

With the help of the given information, we can form an equation where the total number of chickens sold can be written as:-

Total = \frac{x}{2} + \frac{1}{2}     

As we already know that the fourth customer bought 1 chicken so the total = 1.

Now keeping the equation equal to 1, we can deduce x, which will be equal to 3.

Therefore, repeating the same method again and again we will reach the first customer. Therefore, the number of chickens bought by each one them is as follows:-

1. The 1st customer bought Total = \frac{15}{2} + \frac{1}{2} = 8 (leaving 7)
2. The 2nd customer bought Total = \frac{7}{2} + \frac{1}{2} = 4 (leaving 3)
3. The 3rd customer bought Total = \frac{3}{2} + \frac{1}{2} = 2 (leaving 1)
4. The 4th customer bought Total = \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{2} = 1

When we add the numbers, we get = 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 15.

Therefore, a total of 15 chickens were sold by the farmer on a particular day.

To practice more puzzles to master your interview preparation, visit our Top 100 puzzles page for interview preparation.