Math Is Fun Forum

samuel.bradley.99

Member

Registered: 2016-03-16

Posts: 51

Day-off

The sales manager in a big firm, after an exhausting but successful campaign, advises his staff of 20 employees that they can take the next day off to relax, but the leave day would be charged to only one of them, and he explained them to which of the employees he would charge the leave day.
Obviously all the employees were desperate for some rest, provided that it would not be them to be charged with the day off, but the manager would want the contrary, i.e. to ensure that as many employees as possible will come to work
Can you guess what was the manager's announcement as to which employee would be charged with the day off?

Last edited by samuel.bradley.99 (2016-03-22 18:07:34)

anna_gg

Member

Registered: 2012-01-10

Posts: 232

Re: Day-off

Hi Samuel,
So I guess it would not be a specific employee, but someone who would meet some condition, right?

Grantingriver

Member

Registered: 2016-02-01

Posts: 129

Re: Day-off

Hi, I guess he said in his announcement that "the first employee who accept his advice will be charged with the day off" so since no one of them would like to be charged with the leave day, no one will accept the advice first and all of them will come to work the next day hence the manager achieves his objective. (This is a kind of "foxy" advice)...

anna_gg

Member

Registered: 2012-01-10

Posts: 232

Re: Day-off

Nice observation, but how would he determine the "first"? For example, what if 5 students didn't show up at school on the next day? Who would be the first?

Hi, I guess he said in his announcement that "the first employee who accept his advice will be charged with the day off" so since no one of them would like to be charged with the leave day, no one will accept the advice first and all of them will come to work the next day hence the manager achieves his objective. (This is a kind of "foxy" advice)...

Last edited by anna_gg (2016-03-28 06:08:24)

Grantingriver

Member

Registered: 2016-02-01

Posts: 129

Re: Day-off

Let's explain it more clearly. I meant that when he makes his announcement, the manager ask the employees to accept it "one at a time" and the first one who accept it will be charged with the day off (If no one accept it then the suggestion will be canceled, of course).

samuel.bradley.99

Member

Registered: 2016-03-16

Posts: 51

Re: Day-off

It must be something binding the employees to go to work on the next day, and this for as many employees as possible.

Let's explain it more clearly. I meant that when he makes his announcement, the manager ask the employees to accept it "one at a time" and the first one who accept it will be charged with the day off (If no one accept it then the suggestion will be canceled, of course).

Grantingriver

Member

Registered: 2016-02-01

Posts: 129

Re: Day-off

Alternative solution: the manager may tell them, in his announcement, that when they come to work the next day after the day off, he will make a lot in which he will mix x pieces of papers numbered from 1 to x (where x is the number of employees who do not attend) and let each one of the employees who did not come to work draws one piece and the one who draws the piece with a certain number (to be indicated before drawing) will be charged with the day off. Now since any one of them has the same chance (5%) to be the charged person, if all of them did not come to work and more than that if some of them attend, then (assuming they are rational) most of them will come to work the next day.

Last edited by Grantingriver (2016-03-31 09:51:46)

anna_gg

Member

Registered: 2012-01-10

Posts: 232

Re: Day-off

I think it must be something related to some unique property - maybe related to the number of employees (20). Otherwise the number is not used!

samuel.bradley.99

Member

Registered: 2016-03-16

Posts: 51

Re: Day-off

Solutions so far are not correct, so any further ideas are most welcome and appreciated!!

Can't think of anything so far!!

Last edited by samuel.bradley.99 (2016-04-24 02:15:02)

samuel.bradley.99

Member

Registered: 2016-03-16

Posts: 51

Re: Day-off

Clarifications: Only one employee can be charged with the leave day. Each employee will come to work ONLY if he is 100% sure that it will be him to be charged with the leave day.
Any further ideas are most welcome

popotamian

Member

Registered: 2017-01-04

Posts: 4

Re: Day-off

He said that the first person who comes to work will choose the person who will be charged the day off if he doesn't come to work and if he comes he will choose the next person and so on. If no one shows up then a spesific emploee will be charged and each time someone chooses an employee he has to notify him.

Last edited by popotamian (2017-01-04 16:18:07)