Brain Teaser: Solve Chocolate Bar Puzzle in Min Breaks

[fernanroy]

A friend of mine is really pulling my chain. He said the answer to this was right in front of me. I doubt that! Does anyone have an idea on this?


"I have a bar of chocolate 6 blocks wide by 9 blocks long and I want to split it into its individual blocks making the smallest number of breaks that I can. The breaks that I am allowed to make start on one side and finish on a different side without visiting a third side.


How many breaks must I make?

Can you generalize your answer bard that are to w blocks wide and m blocks long?"

 

[DaveC426913]

Let's see. The obvious answer is 13, or w+m-2. I'm sure there's a shorter answer. That's the upper limit.

 

[fernanroy]

Thank You!

Let's see. The obvious answer is 13, or w+m-2. I'm sure there's a shorter answer. That's the upper limit.

Makes sense now that I look at it! Would you elaborate w+m-2?

 

[DaveC426913]

Would you elaborate w+m-2?

To break something into 6 pieces, you to need to make 5 breaks.

So, specifically: 9-1 + 6-1, or generally: w-1 + m-1.

 

[fernanroy]

To break something into 6 pieces, you to need to make 5 breaks.

So, specifically: 9-1 + 6-1, or generally: w-1 + m-1.

YES! Thanks so much! I appreciate it!

 

[K.J.Healey]

Hmm, what about breaking it then stacking it and breaking it again? How thick is this bar?