Need The Answer Please!

[laurengano88]

In the dark, you are drawing socks from a drawer, one at a time (your family is asleep and you don't want to wake them...). The drawer contains 12 red socks, 11 white socks, 10 black socks, and 9 blue socks. What is the minimum number of socks you must draw from the drawer to be absolutely sure you have all of at least one of the colors?0

[Old_Geezer]

in which case it's 11+10+9+8+1 =39
Or 40 if white isn't a colour.

[aelmpvw]

this is why i only buy black socks

[Ken4155]

What's wrong with you people? Just put on whatever pair you pull from the drawer, no-ones gonna see 'em ;-)

[CrapAtCryptics]

34

[CrapAtCryptics]

12+11+10+1 = 34

[bhg481]

CAC - 11red + 10 white + 9 black + 4 blue = 34 socks, but no complete set of one colour, so 34 cannot be the answer.

[piggynose]

I tend to use a torch, seriously.

[pixie374]

She hasn't asked for a set. All of at least one colour...

[Libby01]

5 as there is only 4 colours

[fiction-factory]

cBut you might pick 5 all of the same colour; or 3 white and 2 black but no red/blue; or 2 white, 2 black, one blue but no red;...........

[THECORBYLOON]

I read it as meaning how many to guarantee at least one of each colour but I now read it as having a complete set of at least one colour.

[THECORBYLOON]

I agree with OG's answer of thirty-nine.

If A,B,C and D are the colours, the most you can have without having a complete set of one colour must be
(A-1)+(B-1)+(C-1)+(D-1)
Or
A+B+C+D-4

That's because if each of the four colours is one short of the maximum, any additional sock MUST complete the set of one of the colours.

That means the lowest number to guarantee a complete set must be,

A+B+C+D-3
12+11+10+9-3 = 39