Turkish Stampede
During the Turkish stampede in Thrace, a small detachment found itself confronted by a wide and deep river. However, they discovered a boat in which two children were rowing about. It was so small that it would only carry the two children, or one grown person.
How did the officer get himself and his 357 soldiers across the river and leave the two children finally in joint possession of their boat? And how many times need the boat pass from shore to shore?
posted by steven | 6:16 AM
3 Comments:
two side of the river [suppose]
x and y
originating point x
destination point y
start:
on side x
2 children + 358 Armymen
end:
on side y
2 children + 358 Armymen
Doing some calculation
it takes 1611 total steps 2 be in the end state
so when 358 Armymen and 2 childrens are on one side .. now the child can be set free and asked to leave ... :)
but then the last ride when 1 child go to the originating position (other side x) to the other kid..he is set free that time only .. so
ANSWER = 1611 - 1 = 1610
sorry forgot to say one thing
my mail addr is
blackhat.linux@gmail.com
if possible whether i am right or wrong can u mail me to tell me the answer ....
though i will keep checking for ur puzzles :)
Hi blackhat,
The answer is actually 1432 - solution here - http://thinks.com/puzzles/dudeney/puzzle3a.htm.
'The two children row to the opposite shore. One gets out and the other brings the boat back. One soldier rows across; soldier gets out, and child returns with boat. Thus it takes four crossings to get one man across and the boat brought back. Hence it takes four times 358, or 1432 journeys, to get the officer and his 357 men across the river and the children left in joint possession of their boat. '
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