93 replies to this topic

[wukupdemon]

Castle - solution
You can put one foot-bridge over one corner (thus a triangle is created). Then from the middle of this foot-bridge lay another foot-bridge to the edge (corner) of the castle. You can make a few easy equations confirming that this is enough.

going of what the soultion claims... does he mean 1 ft, or 1M?
or, does he say 1 ft to imply 1/3 M?

thats why i started saying 'unit length' as opposed to M or ft

[rookie1ja]

Castle - solution
You can put one foot-bridge over one corner (thus a triangle is created). Then from the middle of this foot-bridge lay another foot-bridge to the edge (corner) of the castle. You can make a few easy equations confirming that this is enough.

going of what the soultion claims... does he mean 1 ft, or 1M?
or, does he say 1 ft to imply 1/3 M?

thats why i started saying 'unit length' as opposed to M or ft

unit length = metres
footbridge = a bridge designed for pedestrians

[Slick_Rick9009]

but why do you say 8.5 unit thength of bridge is being used to complete the diagonal bridge when the bridges are 9.5 and not 8.5 meters long?

from the way i read it i assumed that the bridge can only be 9.5 M and only one bridge can be made. Therefore if one 1M was used on the diagonal, only 8.5M of bridge would be able to be made with the remaning material

I see what you meant by it now.

[EZTORRES]

What everyone seems to be missing is that the equations tell us that the solution "should" work. Practically, it would not work. The bridge to the castle would have to be supported by the land and the other bridge. According to the equations, the "distance" from the castle to the other bridge is exactly 9.5. At least that's what I see.

[yumpie7]

just f****** swim

[yumpie7]

build 2! and attach them!

[Symbol]

You walk across, because the moat is only .5 feet deep.

[rollem78]

OK, you guys are ridiculous with your lashing, draining, and jumping. The problem should have stated that the conquerors only had 2 pieces of plank, each 9.5 m long. This is an easy puzzle, but I am impressed with some of the ingenuity. I see the last poster is the only one who got it right.

[Naruki]

I see the last poster is the only one who got it right.

You're the blind guy in the land of one-eyed kings, aren't you?

[aggrrssive]

For all you swimmers.. Maybe the moat is 20 meters deep and filled with sharks that have friggin' laser beams attached to their heads.
In that case, we could build a large wooden rabbit and leave it by the front door. When the French lower the gate and bring the gift inside, Lancelot and I would jump out, not only catching the French by surprise, but totally unarmed!

..or if we go with the wandering kids analogy: They found just two planks that were cut to 9.5 meters length and wanted to build their bridge to Terebithia over a 10 meter moat filled with leaches and nasty water that only that kid with greasy hair who sits in the back of the class picking his nose would even think of swimming in.
In this case, they would find a flimsy old rope hanging from a nearby tree and swing across with no explainable way of returning (although they always did). One of the kids would eventually die in this endeavor while the other was off carousing with his music teacher.