Tuesday Puzzle

10/13/09, 1:59 PM #1

Dan Donaldson
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5,264 posts

Registered: 9/17/01

Tuesday Puzzle

Here are a couple of softballs for you;-)

A train moving at 49 mph meets and is passed by a train moving at 63 mph. A passenger in the first train noted that the second train took 4.5 seconds to pass him. How long is the second train?

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

10/13/09, 3:03 PM #2

Alex Yeilding
Guest

Going opposite directions?

My solution requires "ugly" calculations that make me think I have probably missed something.

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

10/13/09, 3:47 PM #3

Bill Earl
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Offline
948 posts

Registered: 6/17/05

about 10 cars

Assuming early 20th century Pullman cars.

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

10/13/09, 8:52 PM #4

Alex Yeilding
Guest

That's what I got

Assuming the "normal" interpretation of "meeting" to mean from opposite directions, rather than a misleading way of saying "being overtaken by".

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

10/13/09, 11:00 PM #5

Dan Donaldson
Member
Offline
5,264 posts

Registered: 9/17/01

yes

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

10/13/09, 11:04 PM #6

Dan Donaldson
Member
Offline
5,264 posts

Registered: 9/17/01

answer

739.2 feet

(5280*(49+63)*4.5)/3600

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

10/14/09, 12:42 PM #7

Joel M. Dibbern-Kramer
Guest

Re: answer

If you add the units for the values the equation would look like this:

(49+63)mi/hr = 112mi/hr * 5280ft/mi * 1hr/60min * 1min/60sec * 4.5sec = 739.2ft

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

10/14/09, 1:10 PM #8

Dan Donaldson
Member
Offline
5,264 posts

Registered: 9/17/01

Thanks

I always use dimensional analysis when I do a problem to make sure that the dimensions on the answer are what I expect. I didn't put them in the answer as I posted it, but it is a bit clearer with them.

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Tuesday Puzzle

10/14/09, 1:59 PM #9

Alex Yeilding
Guest

That's the same "ugly math" I got

If the trains were going 53 and 67 mph, and one passed an observer in the other in 3 seconds, you can do the math in your head.

When I needed a calculator, I figured I was probably missing something ;-)

Tuesday Puzzle

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