16Hit1600
Advanced MathVery hardDay on which growth first exceeds a threshold

Advanced Math practice question

A rumour is known to 5 people on day 1, and the number who know it triples each day. On which day does the number first exceed 300?

Answer: 5

Day 1: 5, day 2: 15, day 3: 45, day 4: 135, day 5: 405. Day 5 is the first over 300.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 4
On day 4 the number is 135.
If you answered 6
Day 6 is later than needed; day 5 already exceeds 300.
If you answered 60
60 comes from 300 ÷ 5, treating growth as linear.

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