Four cops go into a donut shop. The first one says “Give me half the donuts you have
left, plus half a donut more.” The second one says “Give me half of the donuts you
have left, plus half a donut more.” The third says “Give me three donuts.” The last
one says “ Give me half of the donuts you have left, plus half a donut more.” The last
transaction emptied the display case of donuts. How many donuts were there to start
with?

Question

Four cops go into a donut shop. The first one says “Give me half the donuts you have
left, plus half a donut more.” The second one says “Give me half of the donuts you
have left, plus half a donut more.” The third says “Give me three donuts.” The last
one says “ Give me half of the donuts you have left, plus half a donut more.” The last
transaction emptied the display case of donuts. How many donuts were there to start
with?

anonymous · Answer

Cop 4 gets one donut.
Cop 3 gets three donuts.
Cop 2 gets 8 donuts (half of 15 plus one half)
Cop 1 gets 16 donuts (half of 31 plus one half)

So 31 donuts to start

anonymous · Answer

how did you figure that out?

anonymous · Answer

To leave no donuts, the last cop has to get (half of one donut plus one half to make one donut.)  Other wise there would be some left.
The rest i just back tracked.

anonymous · Answer

0=x/2 +1/2