Thread: A REAL math problem

  1. #1
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    A REAL math problem

    Below you will find an interesting math problem. If there is enough interest, and no one will get the solution, I will post the solution in a few days. Hint: use imaginery numbers.

    There is a treasure burried on a deserted island. Here are the instructions to the place where you can dig for the treasure. On one of the island's meadows on the north shore two trees stand; an ancient oak, and an ancient pine. There is also an old gallows. Start at the gallows and walk to the oak counting the steps. At the oak turn right by a right angle and take the same number of steps. Put a spike in the ground at this point. Now return to the gollows. Now walk to the pine and count the steps. At the pine turn left by a right angle and take the same number of steps. Put another spike here. Dig halfway between the spikes; the treasure is there.

    You get to the island, but in time, the weather has destroyed the gallows; not even a trace of them is to be found. How do you find the treasure?

    EDIT:: there is an answer!
    Last edited by axon; 10-05-2003 at 08:15 PM.

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

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    get a real job so you don't have to go to deserted $$$$ing islands looking for buried $$$$ing treasure

  3. #3
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    Originally posted by Silvercord
    get a real job so you don't have to go to deserted $$$$ing islands looking for buried $$$$ing treasure
    I thought that this will be the response from some. It shows a lot from a "youth leader" like yourself silvercord. How about you try the problem, but if you find it borring/stupid, ot whatever, don't make any comments.
    Last edited by axon; 10-05-2003 at 08:34 PM.

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

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    I was just joking around, lol

    I don't feel like trying the problem.

    EDIT: besides, Ive got to lead our nation's youth to getting real jobs

    haha

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    My first year calculus professor did exactly the same problem I will refrain from answering

  6. #6
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    Originally posted by ZerOrDie
    My first year calculus professor did exactly the same problem I will refrain from answering
    Yet you don't need calculus to solve it!

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  7. #7
    Pursuing knowledge confuted's Avatar
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    Originally posted by axon
    Yet you don't need calculus to solve it!
    You didn't need calculus for the problem my first year calc teacher gave us, either, but we sure tried it

    A man on a bike is 200 meters from a wall, traveling 10 meters per second toward the wall. There is a fly at the wall, which flies toward the bike at 1 meter per second. When it gets to the bike, it changes direction instantly and starts flying back toward the wall. When it reaches the wall, it changes direction instantly and starts flying back toward the bike. This continues until the fly is trapped between the bike tire and the wall and squished.

    How far did the fly fly?
    Away.

  8. #8
    C++ Developer XSquared's Avatar
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    As the bike approaches the wall, the distance the fly travels approaches infinity.
    Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah

    You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie

  9. #9
    Pursuing knowledge confuted's Avatar
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    Originally posted by XSquared
    As the bike approaches the wall, the distance the fly travels approaches infinity.
    Absolutely not.
    Away.

  10. #10
    Toaster Zach L.'s Avatar
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    I may be missing something, but the fact that the fly changes direction does not seem to matter.

    The man will spend 20 s enroute, and at the fly's rate of travel, it will have moved a total of 20 m.

    As for the other problem, still working on it.
    The word rap as it applies to music is the result of a peculiar phonological rule which has stripped the word of its initial voiceless velar stop.

  11. #11
    carry on JaWiB's Avatar
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    But wouldn't the fly hit the bike tire before he hits the wall? in 20 sec the bike hits the wall, in 20 seconds the fly is 20 meters away from the wall, so in 15 seconds the fly is at 185 and the bike is at 150 in 18 seconds the fly is at 182 and the bike is at 180 less than a second later the bike reaches the fly, at which point the fly turns around and the bike catches up with the fly and suddenly the fly is moving at 10 meters per second until BAM...so the answer is 36.2 meters since the fly made it exactly 18.1 meters before heading back 18.1 meters to meet his doom...
    "Think not but that I know these things; or think
    I know them not: not therefore am I short
    Of knowing what I ought."
    -John Milton, Paradise Regained (1671)

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  12. #12
    Toaster Zach L.'s Avatar
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    Good point... Forgot the bike was moving faster than the fly.
    The word rap as it applies to music is the result of a peculiar phonological rule which has stripped the word of its initial voiceless velar stop.

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    hey you guys you are forgetting axon's problem

  14. #14
    C++ Developer XSquared's Avatar
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    I've already got that one figured out. Just not gonna post the solution yet.
    Naturally I didn't feel inspired enough to read all the links for you, since I already slaved away for long hours under a blistering sun pressing the search button after typing four whole words! - Quzah

    You. Fetch me my copy of the Wall Street Journal. You two, fight to the death - Stewie

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    If it is possible to find the treasure without knowing the position of the gallows that means it doesn't matter where the gallows was located. The outcome will be the same for all starting points. So just choose one. I suggest starting in the middle between the 2 trees.

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