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SomeSnipe
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Hi! You are completely right with this approach, however the question is asking after how many hours it will fall BELOW 1/32. After 15 hours it will be exactly 1/32, and it will fall below that mark only when it halves again, which is going to happen after 5 more hours, so answer is 20. This was my idea, hopefully it is applicable.
SolarNote
Hi,

Somehow, I am still getting 15 hours no matter how I approach this question.

1/4 starting,
1/8 in 5 hours,
1/16 in 10 hours,
1/32 in 15 hours.

Can someone please help me understand the pitfall in my understanding?
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SolarNote
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MilanaK12
Hi! You are completely right with this approach, however the question is asking after how many hours it will fall BELOW 1/32. After 15 hours it will be exactly 1/32, and it will fall below that mark only when it halves again, which is going to happen after 5 more hours, so answer is 20. This was my idea, hopefully it is applicable.

I get it now, since the only option where the sample is below 1/32 is 20, we need to consider it. Thank you for the reply!!!

Regards,
SolarNote
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findingmyself
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To make it simple:

At time =0 sample =X
At time =5 sample =X/2
At time =10 sample =X/4
At time =15 sample =X/8
At time =20 sample =X/16
At time =25 sample =X/32
At time=30 sample falls below 1/32 which is it becomes 1/64

So if i start at X/4 then number of hours is 30-10 which is 20 hours.
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