All Problems
Problem #17 HARD

The Fragile Floors

Google Meta Pattern Recognition

Problem Statement

You work in a testing lab with a tall building and two identical test samples. Each sample will survive any fall below a certain critical floor and shatter on any fall at or above it. You do not know the critical floor. The building has 100 floors. You can drop each sample as many times as it survives — but once a sample breaks, it is gone. What is the fewest number of drops you need to guarantee finding the exact critical floor?

Answer & Quick Explanation

Logged-in Users Only

You must be logged in to view the answer and check your solution. Signing up is free and takes less than a minute.

Detailed Editorial Solution

Detailed Editorial Solution is Premium

Unlock detailed step-by-step mathematical proofs, logic explanations, and company-specific interview preparation pathways.