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The Puzzle
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in General Chat
The Puzzle
U2 has a concert that starts in 17 minutes and they must all cross a bridge to get there. All four men begin on the same side of the bridge. You must help them across to the other side. It is night. There is one flashlight.
A maximum of two people can cross at one time. Any party who crosses, either 1 or 2 people, must have the flashlight with them. The flashlight must be walked back and forth, it cannot be thrown, etc. Each band member walks at a different speed.
A pair must walk together at the rate of the slower man's pace:
Bono:- 1 minute to cross
Edge:- 2 minutes to cross
Adam:- 5 minutes to cross
Larry:- 10 minutes to cross
For example: if Bono and Larry walk across first, 10 minutes have elapsed when they get to the other side of the bridge. If Larry then returns with the flashlight, a total of 20 minutes have passed and you have failed the mission.
Notes: There is no trick behind this. It is the simple movement of resources in the appropriate order. There are two known answers to this problem. This is based on a question Microsoft gives to all prospective employees.
Note: Microsoft expects you to answer this question in under 5 minutes!
U2 has a concert that starts in 17 minutes and they must all cross a bridge to get there. All four men begin on the same side of the bridge. You must help them across to the other side. It is night. There is one flashlight.
A maximum of two people can cross at one time. Any party who crosses, either 1 or 2 people, must have the flashlight with them. The flashlight must be walked back and forth, it cannot be thrown, etc. Each band member walks at a different speed.
A pair must walk together at the rate of the slower man's pace:
Bono:- 1 minute to cross
Edge:- 2 minutes to cross
Adam:- 5 minutes to cross
Larry:- 10 minutes to cross
For example: if Bono and Larry walk across first, 10 minutes have elapsed when they get to the other side of the bridge. If Larry then returns with the flashlight, a total of 20 minutes have passed and you have failed the mission.
Notes: There is no trick behind this. It is the simple movement of resources in the appropriate order. There are two known answers to this problem. This is based on a question Microsoft gives to all prospective employees.
Note: Microsoft expects you to answer this question in under 5 minutes!
0
Comments
Bono + Edge cross. 2 mins
Bono comes back with torch. +1 min = 3 mins
Adam + Larry cross. +10 mins = 13 mins
Edge comes back with torch. +2 mins = 15 mins
Bono + Edge cross. +2mins = 17mins
The alternative is deciding which of Bono & Edge comes back first.
Kept me amused for a while.
Why are they only turning up that late?
How big is the bridge?
Why is Bono 10 times faster than larry?
Cos it's Bono :thumb:
How long did it take you to work that out?