Looks like three ducks.

35) Three, three ducks! [/The Count]

I know this is getting tired, but I think a good analogy is a bolo being thrown, where the two balls aren't spinning perfectly around the center of the rope, but instead both are spinning around a point closer to one of the balls.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/20...f-mass-motion/

#35 is any odd number equal to or greater than three.

MR DUCKS
MR KNOTT
C.M. WANGS?
YIB!
MR DUCKS!

Not if you consider that article "a" to mean ONLY one duck.

But it could be any duck, right?

Who will answer 34?

34...I don't remember it that way. The way it's written why can't he just take the goose over, then go get the fox and take him over, take the goose back with him and leave it while he takes the corn over, then go back and get the goose?

What am I missing? Who's getting et?

Ok, I will.

****


West bank of river is starting point,

East bank of river is destination point.

WEST ----------- EAST
-----------------------
F G C ------------ xxx
------> G goes east making:
F x C ------------ x G x
<----- empty boat goes west making:
F -- C ------------ x G x
------> F goes east making:
x x C -------------- F G x
<------- G goes west making:
x G C -------------- F x x
--------> C goes east making:
x G x --------------- F x C
<-------- empty boat goes west making:
x G x ------------- F x C
---------> G goes east making:
x x x --------------- F G C

Done.

You could suggest that the boat driver invent Foosorn (tm) and just make the one trip.

True. True. But it doesn't say "only" it says "a." One of us should be right, and I'm betting it's you, because it's a neater answer.

@ V: So your answer and my answer are the same. My answer is just easier to read. ;)

I'm just assuming that's why it's supposed to be a "mental nut." First number I thought of was 5, then I thought A duck...no it's only three. That's supposed to be the tricky part, methinks.

@footfootfoot --
Relative positions, eh? Because their relative positions never change, the hunter does not go around the squirrel. That's your story? Please note that the relative positions of the hunter and the tree are also unchanging, yet, the tree is "gone around". The "object of the question" doesn't define the circle.

How do you make a circle? How do you go around something?

@glatt --
I skimmed your link, interesting.

Yaknow, I didn't bother with the whole plane on a treadmill kerfuffle. I found it a bit irritating. I get it now. :facepalm: