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Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

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Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

#1

Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

Alex Y

Four friends named (for a reason that will be made clear shortly) One, Two, Five, and Ten have gotten lost in the woods and are trying to find their way out, hiking in the dark with their only flashlight. They come to an old rope bridge across a canyon. They determine that the bridge would be too dangerous to cross without the flashlight, and that it could support at most two of the hikers at a time. They will send two people over then one will return with the flashlight, and repeat until all are across.

Each hiker's name tells you how many minutes it takes the hiker to cross the bridge. When two are crossing together, they go at the rate of the slower hiker.

How quickly can all four get across the canyon?

Re: Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

#2

Re: Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

Ed in Leaside

I think they'll be in their late teens before they all cross.

Re: Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

#3

More specific?

Alex Y

If the teens are ages 13-19, I guess late teens are ages 17-19, and that would mean your answer might be correct. But I can't tell.

Re: Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

#4

Re: More specific?

Ed in Leaside

The last teen.

Re: Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

#5

Re: Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

Alex Y

Anyone do better than 19 minutes?

Re: Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

#6

Re: Friday Puzzler--I'm at 19.


Re: Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

#7

Re: Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

Henry Higginbotham

I see a 17-minute scheme.

1 and 2 cross: 2 min, total 2 min

1 returns: 1 min, total 3 min

5 and 10 cross: 10 min, total 13 min

2 returns: 2 min, total 15 min

1 and 2 cross: 2 min, total 17 min

Re: Friday Puzzler--Rope Bridge

#8

Correct!

Alex Y

Nice job, Henry.

I never got better than 19, and when I heard the answer was 17, was sure that there was some nefarious trick to get to 17.

👍 This page answered my questions

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