The seeking mountain climber

[bonanova]

The wise man on the mountain knew the secret of life. The seeker was granted a 12-hour audience; all he had to do was climb. He began the climb precisely at 8:00 one morning, climbing at the rate of 1.5 mph. After his meeting with the seer, he immediately descended using the same trail, at 4.5 mph, and he reached the bottom at noon the next day. And now what question shall we ask?

A. What is the meaning of life told to the seeker?

B. How long is the trail?

Question B.

[jhawk]

The trail is 18 miles long

[dark_magician_92]

trail is 31.5 miles. Meaning of life to be thought later

[witzar]

The audience took 12 hours, which leaves 16 hours for climbing/descending. Since the seeker descended three times faster than he climbed, descending took three times less time then climbing, so he was climbing for 12 hours and descending for 4 hours. Climbing for 12 hours at the rate 1.5 mph means that the trail was 18 miles long. (Descending for 4h at the rate 4.5 mph gives the same 18 miles.)

[bushindo]

The wise man on the mountain knew the secret of life. The seeker was granted a 12-hour audience; all he had to do was climb. He began the climb precisely at 8:00 one morning, climbing at the rate of 1.5 mph. After his meeting with the seer, he immediately descended using the same trail, at 4.5 mph, and he reached the bottom at noon the next day. And now what question shall we ask?

A. What is the meaning of life told to the seeker?

B. How long is the trail?

Question B.

Answer for Question A

42

[bonanova]

jawk got it first, but see witzar's post for the analysis.

Bushindo has to account for the 11 hours and 59 minutes consumed discussing a two-digit number