An extra

3/29/11, 8:22 PM #1

Dan Donaldson
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An extra

Dan Donaldson

Erica and John are standing in the same cattle field at the same time. Erica can see the same number of bulls and cows in the field. However, John can see twice as many cows as bulls. How can this be and how many cows and bulls are there in the field?

- - -

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: An extra

3/29/11, 10:04 PM #2

Steven McDaniel
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Re: An extra

Steven McDaniel

How many stomachs does Erica have?

Re: An extra

3/29/11, 10:15 PM #3

Dan Donaldson
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- - -

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: An extra

3/29/11, 10:24 PM #4

Alex Y
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I don't think it matters

Alex Y

as long as John and Erica have at least three stomachs between them

Re: An extra

3/29/11, 10:30 PM #5

Steven McDaniel
Guest

Re: I don't think it matters

Steven McDaniel

I do think you're right. And that would make a total of what, 17 stomachs in that field that we're talking about?

Re: An extra

3/30/11, 5:32 AM #6

Dan Donaldson
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Dan Donaldson

Steven and Alex got it. It is an easy problem once you realize that the two are not human.

- - -

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: An extra

3/30/11, 11:27 AM #7

Alex Y
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Or 14

Alex Y

if they account for four of the stomachs

Re: An extra

3/30/11, 10:13 PM #8

Stuart Hough
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Re: An extra

Stuart Hough

I'm not good at the cryptic language, so I'll just be direct...

Erica and John are bovine animals. Erica is a cow, John (of couse) is a bull. Erica sees one cow (her friend Bossy) and one bull. John just sees the two ladies, and thinks his chances are pretty good (wink, wink). So there are three in total.

- - -

Novice woodworker, tool-collecting nut, Trying to learn as I go using magazines, books, TV and the web as references. Live in Florence, SC. 63 years old/young (take yer pick). Will talk about nearly anything brought up, might know a little, or a lot...I just don't know! Got started on the path to woodworking several years ago when my wife Irene and I were in a high-end, really expensive "Exotic Furniture" store in Greer, SC. After watching me put my face down on the tabletops to gawk at how the grain leaped out at me, she said those fateful words..." Why don't you quit screwing around talking about this stuff and build me some things?" All I could do was to stop...slowly turn my head in her direction...and say........"Don't toy with me!!! If that's what you really want...be prepared....it's not cheap!" She said that if it got me home from work more often, that it would be worth it. My only regret now is that there is too little money for too much wood! I have told the kids (son Russ, 43 and daughter Courtney,40) that the only thing I want for any holiday or birthday is interesting wood, and in return, for their birthdays, they'll get it back, albeit in a different and hopefully more pleasing form. I am slowly learning (I guess you could call it being self-taught) from magazines and books and having an absolute blast doing it! One day I hope to design something that will stop people in their tracks, but if I only get a thank you kiss from my wife...that'll be just fine!

Re: An extra

4/1/11, 2:22 PM #9

Alex Y
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Re: An extra

Alex Y

But the problem says that John sees twice as many cows as bulls. If I understand your solution, he sees no bulls.

Actually, there are three solutions, depending on whether John, Erica, or both are bovine:

J human, E bovine: one additional cow (two total) and one bull

J bovine, E human: one additional bull (two total) and two cows

J bovine, E bovine: two additional bulls (three total) and three additional cows (four total)

I think I messed up on the stomach counts in a previous post. Trying to get too cute.

Re: An extra

4/1/11, 6:26 PM #10

Steven McDaniel
Guest

Re: An extra

Steven McDaniel

I wondered about your stomach count, but since I only came up with the first solution you listed, I thought I'd keep quiet in case I had missed something.

Actually, the first idea that came to my mind was that Erica and John were standing back to back and therefore seeing different parts of the same field, which would account for the different cow and bull count, but that would not have accounted for an exact number of cows and bulls, just a ratio. (Plus, it seemed a little silly. :-)

Re: An extra

4/1/11, 7:50 PM #11

Dan Donaldson
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Re: An extra

Dan Donaldson

This group is good. A major part of this one is that the two are not necessarily human.

Another one I have seen is:

Jason is dead. He has food in front of him and an iron bar across his shoulders. Explain.

- - -

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: An extra

4/5/11, 2:25 PM #12

Bill Earl
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Re: An extra

Bill Earl

Would that food be a bit of cheese perhaps?

An extra

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