Brain Teasers
Bridge Builders
There was a new and very popular Emperor in a small country in the Pacific Ocean. The country consisted of two small islands 3 miles apart. The only way to get to the other island was an old, small ferry boat. The new Emperor was very progressive and wanted to shape up the community to attract tourists and hopefully new residents to stop the population from shrinking.
He decided to connect the islands by a new bridge. Everyone knew the job would be difficult and dangerous, and when he put out the word only two companies were even willing to attempt it.
Company A was the first to offer and said they could do it for $800,000. When the Emperor told the contractor of Company B what Company A offered, the contractor of Company B said they could not do it for less than $1,000,000. The Emperor took a while to think it over. Contractor B, being very smart and confident, came back to the Emperor and said, "Sir, I will give you an offer you cannot refuse. The decision is completely up to you in the end, but you can pay me $200,000, $750,000, or $1,000,000 for the job." Contractor B proceeded with his details and the Emperor immediately accepted his offer. Company B ended up being paid $1,000,000 for the job. Contractor B did not lie, cheat, or swindle the Emperor in any way. He is a very honest businessman.
Why did Company B's offer sound so good to the Emperor, and more importantly, how did Company B end up with the highest amount?
He decided to connect the islands by a new bridge. Everyone knew the job would be difficult and dangerous, and when he put out the word only two companies were even willing to attempt it.
Company A was the first to offer and said they could do it for $800,000. When the Emperor told the contractor of Company B what Company A offered, the contractor of Company B said they could not do it for less than $1,000,000. The Emperor took a while to think it over. Contractor B, being very smart and confident, came back to the Emperor and said, "Sir, I will give you an offer you cannot refuse. The decision is completely up to you in the end, but you can pay me $200,000, $750,000, or $1,000,000 for the job." Contractor B proceeded with his details and the Emperor immediately accepted his offer. Company B ended up being paid $1,000,000 for the job. Contractor B did not lie, cheat, or swindle the Emperor in any way. He is a very honest businessman.
Why did Company B's offer sound so good to the Emperor, and more importantly, how did Company B end up with the highest amount?
Hint
2 Hints:1. Company A is part of Company B's idea.
2. Use your math and accounting skills
Answer
Contractor B was very confident in his company's excellent work. It was high quality work so could not lower the full price to under $1,000,000. He suggested to the Emperor that each company start building from opposite ends and each complete a quarter of the bridge. The emperor could then examine the 2 quarters and make his decision on which company would complete the job, based off of quality.Each company would be paid $200,000 for their quarter, that way if Company A won, the emperor would still only be paying $800,000 ($400,000 more to Company A for the rest of the bridge). If Company B won, Contractor B argued, it would be because they were obviously superior in bridge building and thus worthy of the extra money. The Emperor would still only be paying $950,000 that way anyway, which is still cheaper than Company B's full offer, while Company B would still get paid their full ¾ pay for ¾ of a bridge ($750,000).
When Company A heard this offer, they knew they were beat because they knew their bridge-building skills were far inferior. They figured it was not worth the $200,000 to start even building since it was so dangerous and immediately backed out, forcing the Emperor to pay Company B their full asking price of $1,000,000.
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Comments
I couldn't begin to imagine the answer...
I agree with scallio, this teaser requires more imagination than logic to solve. Verrrrry difficult!
That didn't make any sense at all. Why would company A offer to build a whole bridge for 800,000 but not build a quarter of it for 200,000? Why would the emperor agree to this if it would inevitably cost him more than just choosing company A? (Even if company A built the whole thing, under this 'deal' its still 150,000 more than the original cost). And why would he make a deal with the contractor without first checking with company A to see if they would be willing to participate?! *head explodes*
Wonderful!!!
IM CONFUSED!!!!!!!!! MY HEAD HURTS FROM READING THE ANSWER,WHAT PART WAS THE TEASER,THE QUESTION OR THE ANSWER!!!
? Where did that answer get pulled from?
It sounds like people are too caught up in the idea that an answer should be easy, or simple. If you really think about it, the answer makes sense from all 3 angles.
But how would you know Company A would backed out? If they offer to build the bridge in the first place, then it only means that they are capable of building it. And if I am the owner of Company A, I would still continue with the project and earn for my company 1/4 of what I should earn if we build the whole thing.
You should at least answer the questions raised by MookBeez.
You should at least answer the questions raised by MookBeez.
To answer MookBeez, Company A KNOWS Company B is a better bridge builder and if it came down to a 'build-off,' Company A knows Company B would win. Company A was hoping to get the job simply by undercutting the price of Company B. The reason they don't start building is because they know they will be beat AND, as it says in the question, it is being built in a very dangerous place. Why risk workers' lives for only a quarter of the job? (You have to think of these things in real life, it's not always just straight forward)
Like I said, I would still continue with the job, then earn for my company 1/4 of what I should earn. Even if its dangerous, it would only be 1/4 dangerous coz I'm only building 1/4 of the bridge.
Anyways, if you made this teaser yourself, then I admire you for coming up with an imaginative one. But the answer is too subjective for me, meaning not everyone (if they own Company A) will have the same decision and conclusion like the one you presented in your answer. I guess that's why a lot of people are confused with the answer.
But please do come up with a lot more interesting teasers. Its good for all of us here at Braingle! Peace!
Anyways, if you made this teaser yourself, then I admire you for coming up with an imaginative one. But the answer is too subjective for me, meaning not everyone (if they own Company A) will have the same decision and conclusion like the one you presented in your answer. I guess that's why a lot of people are confused with the answer.
But please do come up with a lot more interesting teasers. Its good for all of us here at Braingle! Peace!
I appreciate your comments, and yes I did come up with this all on my own. I was trying to be completely original and imaginative and understand why people may not agree with it. I am simply defending the answer I wrote, though I do not mind when people criticize it because it helps when I try to come up with others. Thanks a lot!
???
VERRRRRY confusing.
VERRRRRY confusing.
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