UPSC Prelims 2010·GS1·science-and-technology·science and technology

A man fills a basket with eggs in such a way that the number of eggs added on each successive day is the same as the number already present in the basket. This way the basket gets completely filled in 24 days. After how many days the basket was $(1)/(4)$th full?

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. A6
  2. B12
  3. C17
  4. D22Correct

Explanation

The problem states that the number of eggs added each day is equal to the number already present. This means the total number of eggs in the basket doubles every day. To solve this, we work backwards from the 24th day: 1. On day 24, the basket is 100 percent full. 2. Since the quantity doubles every day, it must have been half full on the previous day. Therefore, on day 23, the basket was 1/2 full. 3. Similarly, on the day before that, it must have been half of the previous day's amount. Half of 1/2 is 1/4. Therefore, on day 22, the basket was 1/4th full. Thus, the basket was 1/4th full after 22 days. The correct option is D.
science-and-technology: A man fills a basket with eggs in such a way that the number of eggs added on each successive day is the same as the num

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