Chain Connection
Algebra
Level
3
You have five pieces of chain, each consisting of three links. You want to make one long chain (complete loop) of these five pieces. Breaking open a link costs 1 euro, and welding an open link costs 3 euros. What is the minimum cost of forming a chain?
The answer is 12.
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1 solution
Yes, this is possible. First, break open all three links of one of the pieces of chain. This costs 3×1 = 3 euros. Then join the remaining four pieces of chain with the three open links. Welding these links costs 3×3 = 9 euros. The total costs are 12 euros.