function minimumPasses(m, w, p, n) {
    if (n <= p) {
        return Math.ceil(n / (m * w));
    }
    
    let currentDay = 0;
    let candy = 0;
    
    while (candy < n) {
        const remainingDaysWithCurrentProduction = Math.ceil((n - candy) / (m * w));      
        
        const canBuy = Math.floor(candy / p);
        
        if (canBuy === 0) {
            // keep saving until enough for a purchase            
            const i = Math.ceil((p - candy) / (m * w));
            currentDay += i;
            candy += (m * w * i);
            continue;
        }

        const total = m + w + canBuy;
        const half = Math.floor(total / 2);
        let mNew = m;
        let wNew = w;

        if (m > w){
            mNew = Math.max(m, half);
            wNew = total - mNew;
        } else {
            wNew = Math.max(w, half);
            mNew = total - wNew;
        }
        
        const rest = candy % p;
        const remainingDaysWithIncreasedProduction = Math.ceil((n - rest) / (mNew * wNew));
        
        if (remainingDaysWithCurrentProduction < remainingDaysWithIncreasedProduction) {
            // stop purchasing and produce until done
            return currentDay + remainingDaysWithCurrentProduction;
        }
        
        // purchases machines and workers and continue
        candy = rest;
        m = mNew;
        w = wNew;            
        currentDay += 1;
        candy += (m * w);
    }
    
    return currentDay;
}