Question

Four stacks containing equal number of chips are to be made from 11 orange, 9 white, 13 black and 7 yellow chips. If all of these chips are used and each stack contains at least one chip of each colour, what is the maximum number of white chips in any one stack?

• A. 3
• B. 4
• C. 5
• D. 6

Hint:

Since every stack needs at least one white chip, the other three stacks together must hold at least 3 white chips, capping the maximum for one stack.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Stack size. Total=11+9+13+7=40, so 40/4=10 chips per stack.

Step 2: Rule. Each of 4 stacks needs at least 1 white chip. Only 9 white chips exist.

Step 3: Bound. Other 3 stacks need at least 3 white chips total. Max in one stack <= 9-3=6.

Step 4: Achievable. A valid distribution exists giving stack 1: 6 white, 2 orange, 1 black, 1 yellow (total 10); other stacks share the rest evenly, all totals work out to 10 each with all colours present.

Final Answer: The maximum number of white chips possible in one stack is 6.