The host of the show, Barnstorm McDoodle, stood on an elevated podium studded with multi-colored lights. Barnstorm was wearing a jacket splattered with bright small reflectors, flashing a wide Hollywood smile under a pencil thin moustache \u2013 his thick, abundant black hair extending backwards like freshly plowed furrows in a field.<\/p>\n
A large, transparent plastic globe full of thousands of small colored plastic balls stood in the middle of the floor between Barnstorm McDoodle and the opposing consoles of team A and B. From the globe a tube led into a small tray.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight, the contestants \u2013 Jack and Jill on my left, Mabel and Seymour on my right \u2013 can win a lot of money by guessing how many balls there are in this large globe,\u201d announced an animated Barnstorm McDoodle, waving his arms regally to contestants and audience.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u2026if they fail\u2026they win nothing, and the pot will be doubled for next week\u2019s contestants,\u201d added Barnstorm McDoodle.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo investigate the contents of the globe, the contestants will enter numbers at their panel, to be repeated on this large screen. The number will divide all the balls in the globe into equal groups, ungrouped balls rolling out from the globe through this tube into the tray \u2013 which balls my lovely assistant Jane will fetch and replace in the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first team to correctly state how many balls the globe contains will win an amount in dollars equal to the number of balls,\u201d proclaimed Barnstorm McDoodle.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny team can request a five minute break to work out a guess, but if it\u2019s wrong they\u2019ll be disqualified, so let\u2019s get on with the show,\u201d shouted Barnstorm McDoodle.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut first a word from our sponsor, Ace Dogfoods.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Ace Dogfoods\u2019 prolonged message, Jack and Jill entered \u201c2\u201d at their panel, which then appeared on the large screen. One ball rolled out into the tray and Jane stepped forth briskly on long legs to put the ball back into the globe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWrite it all down, Jill,\u201d said Jack.<\/p>\n
Mabel and Seymour entered \u201c5\u201d and four balls rolled out into the tray, rapidly picked up and replaced by a smiling Jane.<\/p>\n
Jack and Jill entered \u201c6\u201d and five balls rolled\u00a0 out into the tray, Jane wiggling into action again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see where this is going,\u201d said Jack. \u201cLet\u2019s find a zero.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then, Mabel and Seymour entered an \u201c8,\u201d which resulted in seven balls in the tray, recovered in lithe strides by Jane.<\/p>\n
Jack and Jill decided to take a chance and entered \u201c11\u201d at the panel. This time no balls came out of the globe.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes!!! We request a break,\u201d said Jack quickly, pulled out his calculator, a pen and notepad.<\/p>\n
\u201cOk, folks, let\u2019s see if Jack and Jill can guess the right number while we hear a word from our sponsor, Ace Dogfoods,\u201d said Barnstorm McDoodle cheerfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on Jill, use what you learned in the number theory course to figure this out rapidly before Mabel and Seymour do,\u201d said Jack urgently. \u201cI want to buy that motorcycle.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOk, Jack, I think I see the pattern,\u201d said Jill with a dimpled smile. \u201cWrite down what I say and get your calculator ready to win the Caribbean cruise I want.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the end of the five-minute word from Ace Dogfoods, Jack announced the result Jill had worked out \u2013 which, happily, turned out to be the correct number of balls in the globe.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople, we have a winner for xxxxx dollars,\u201d shouted Barnstorm McDoodle jubilantly, giving Jane a big hug.<\/p>\n
What would you say was the least possible number of balls in the large globe?<\/em><\/p>\nShare this:<\/h3>