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What is the minimum number of students needed in a class to guarantee that there are at least $6$ students whose birthdays fall in the same month ?

  1. $6$
  2. $23$
  3. $61$
  4. $72$
  5. $91$
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Best answer
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Using pigeonhole principle: With $n$ pigeon and $m$ holes atleast $p$ pigeo will be on $m$ holes are:

$\frac{n-1}{m} +1 =p$

$n- 1 +12 =6\times 12$

$n- 1  = 72- 12=60$

$n= 60+1=61$

Correct Answer: $C$
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Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
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${\color{DarkOrange} S}$ ${\color{DarkOrange} S}$ ${\color{DarkOrange} S}$ ${\color{DarkOrange} S}$ ${\color{DarkOrange} S}$ ${\color{DarkOrange} S}$ ${\color{DarkOrange} S}$ ${\color{DarkOrange} S}$ ${\color{DarkOrange} S}$ ${\color{DarkOrange} S}$   ${\color{DarkOrange} S}$ ${\color{DarkOrange} S}$
${\color{Green} S}$ ${\color{Green} S}$ ${\color{Green} S}$ ${\color{Green} S}$ ${\color{Green} S}$ ${\color{Green} S}$   ${\color{Green} S}$ ${\color{Green} S}$ ${\color{Green} S}$ ${\color{Green} S}$ ${\color{Green} S}$ ${\color{Green} S}$
${\color{Magenta} S}$ ${\color{Magenta} S}$ ${\color{Magenta} S}$ ${\color{Magenta} S}$ ${\color{Magenta} S}$ ${\color{Magenta} S}$ ${\color{Magenta} S}$ ${\color{Magenta} S}$ ${\color{Magenta} S}$   ${\color{Magenta} S}$ ${\color{Magenta} S}$   ${\color{Magenta} S}$
${\color{Teal} S}$ ${\color{Teal} S}$ ${\color{Teal} S}$ ${\color{Teal} S}$ ${\color{Teal} S}$ ${\color{Teal} S}$ ${\color{Teal} S}$ ${\color{Teal} S}$ ${\color{Teal} S}$   ${\color{Teal} S}$ ${\color{Teal} S}$ ${\color{Teal} S}$

Procedure :-

select $12$ students and then put them in $1$ slot each like $1^{st}$ Jan $, 2^{nd}$ in Feb$, 3^{rd}$ in March and so on.

repeat the above step $5$ times.

so total students selected till now $= 12\times 5 =60$ and in each month we have $5$ students.

now if we select $1$ more student then his birthday can be in any of the given $12$ months.

say his birthday is in December then we can

guarantee that there are at least $6$ students whose birthdays fall in the same month

so total students required $= 60 +1 =61.$

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$\mathbf{\underline{Answer:C}}$

$\mathbf{\underline{Intuitive \;Answer:}}$

It's very logical.

You have $\mathbf{12}$ months. So if there are $\mathbf5$ students born in each month in the worst case then you get $\mathbf{12\times5 = 60}$ but you need a guarantee of at least $\mathbf 6$ students whose b'day fall in the same month.

$\therefore$ Add $\mathbf{+1}$ more.

So answer $=\mathbf{12\times5 + 1 = 61}$

Answer:

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