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A Pair in the Dark

brainteaser
A bedroom drawer contains a jumble of socks in exactly two colors: black and blue. There are plenty of socks of each color, but the room is completely dark, so you cannot tell one color from the other by looking. You must remove socks one at a time, without turning on a light or checking their colors in any other way. What is the smallest number of socks you must take from the drawer to guarantee that you have at least two socks of the same color?

Hints

Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3

Solution

Commit an attempt to unseal the proof. Write your answer — right or wrong, thinking it through is the point.

What is the fewest number of socks you must take?

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