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Topic: Vending machine problem. (Read 1630 times) |
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sateesp
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Vending machine problem.
« on: Feb 27th, 2010, 1:18am » |
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There is a one milk vending machine, which has three buttons. Each button has limits called min and max. These limits indicates that when you press that button , min and max milk that you can get. Given this information, how would you find, is it possible to get the milk in the range of given min and max by pressing any combination of vending machine 3 buttons.
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R
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Re: Vending machine problem.
« Reply #1 on: Mar 5th, 2010, 9:00pm » |
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Can anyone explain clearly on what is being asked and what is given?
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towr
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Re: Vending machine problem.
« Reply #2 on: Mar 6th, 2010, 3:37am » |
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If I had to guess, I'd say we are given intervals [a,b], [c,d], [e,f], and want to add them together in some way such that the resultant interval you get lies in [g,h].
So we want to find x,y,z such that xa+yc+ze >=g and xb+yd+zf <=h
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Ant_Man
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Re: Vending machine problem.
« Reply #3 on: Mar 8th, 2010, 2:21pm » |
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I believe we just need g<=xa+yc+ze<=h or g<=xb+yd+zf<=h. He just wants to know if it is possible at all.
It seems like the best strategy could potentially change after each button press, too.
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| « Last Edit: Mar 8th, 2010, 2:22pm by Ant_Man » |
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sateesp
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Re: Vending machine problem.
« Reply #4 on: Mar 17th, 2010, 10:01am » |
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That would be a brute force technique. Is there any better way to solve this ?
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towr
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Re: Vending machine problem.
« Reply #5 on: Mar 17th, 2010, 11:46am » |
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Let's first settle on what problem you want to solve. Is Ant_Man's interpretation correct, or mine?
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sateesp
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Re: Vending machine problem.
« Reply #6 on: Mar 20th, 2010, 10:25pm » |
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Ant_Man's interpretation correct. we just need find the x,y, z such that it satisfies the following condition.
g<=xa+yc+ze<=h or g<=xb+yd+zf<=h.
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