Mental Nuts-- Can You Crack 'em? - Page 25

ZenGum · 01-06-2012, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Bonus Nut:

If it takes 4 men 3 days to dig 2 holes, how long does it take one man to dig half a hole?

Since it takes six man-days to dig a hole, it should take one man three days to dig half a hole, but you might object that you can't dig "half a hole", because that would still be a hole. However, a man can dig half a hole, it all depends on someone else digging the other half of the hole. And since you stipulated one man, he'll have to come back and do the other half himself. So it turns out it takes six days after all. First three days for the half he is digging, and then another three days to make the first half, well, a half.

infinite monkey · 01-06-2012, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Since it takes six man-days to dig a hole, it should take one man three days to dig half a hole, but you might object that you can't dig "half a hole", because that would still be a hole. However, a man can dig half a hole, it all depends on someone else digging the other half of the hole. And since you stipulated one man, he'll have to come back and do the other half himself. So it turns out it takes six days after all. First three days for the half he is digging, and then another three days to make the first half, well, a half.

Hole in the ground...deep subject!

footfootfoot · 01-06-2012, 07:43 AM

or half a whole

glatt · 01-06-2012, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

If it takes 4 men 3 days to dig 2 holes, how long does it take one man to dig half a hole?

Three of those men are shovel leaners, and the 4th does about 90% of the digging. Unfortunately one of the shovel leaners is the man that got assigned to dig alone, and while he is digging harder than usual, it's still never going to get done because he finds an excuse to do something else.

infinite monkey · 01-06-2012, 08:18 AM

City employees, eh?

Spexxvet · 01-06-2012, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

City employees, eh?

No, Bank of America executives.

Lamplighter · 01-06-2012, 08:23 AM

In order to dig half a hole, he first has to dig a quarter of a hole.
In order to dig a quarter of a hole, he first has to dig an eighth of a hole.
In order to dig eighth of a hole, he first has to dig 1/16 of a hole.
.
.
In order to dig 1/N of a hole, he first has to dig 1/2xN of a hole.

IOW, he can not even leave home, let alone find a shovel, or walk to the work site.

Spexxvet · 01-06-2012, 08:25 AM

If he walks all the way around the hole, does he go around tha hole?

infinite monkey · 01-06-2012, 08:34 AM

He goes around A Hole. Get it? A hole?

HungLikeJesus · 01-06-2012, 09:33 AM

Did we ever get correct answers for #36 and 37?

jimhelm · 01-06-2012, 10:26 AM

What if the hole digger was a shitman?

footfootfoot · 01-06-2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

Did we ever get correct answers for #36 and 37?

No, but you did get a correct answer to #21 though no one seemed to like it.
Also I am still waiting for an answer to the riddle
here are more answers:

HungLikeJesus · 01-06-2012, 12:26 PM

I don't understand what the answer for #37 says. Is the answer 24 eggs?

Last weekend I bought a chemistry book like that - it's full of errors.

Pete Zicato · 01-06-2012, 03:56 PM

HLJ is correct. The book answer is in error.

I found a simple explanation elsewhere.

Given the initial statement:

3 hens can lay 3 eggs in 1.5 days
therefore
6 hens can lay 6 eggs in 1.5 days
and
6 hens can lay 4 eggs in 1 day
therefore
6 hens can lay 24 eggs in 6 days (already we see the error)
and
6 hens can lay 28 eggs in 7 days

Pete Zicato · 01-06-2012, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

In order to dig half a hole, he first has to dig a quarter of a hole.
In order to dig a quarter of a hole, he first has to dig an eighth of a hole.
In order to dig eighth of a hole, he first has to dig 1/16 of a hole.
.
.
In order to dig 1/N of a hole, he first has to dig 1/2xN of a hole.

IOW, he can not even leave home, let alone find a shovel, or walk to the work site.

A local college was looking for a way to help students decide between math and engineering majors. They headed the students to the large gym and lined up the girls on one side and the boys on the other. Then they told the students that they could walk half the distance to the other side every 15 seconds. When they reached their opposite number they could give them a kiss.

The mathematicians left knowing they would never reach the center. The engineers stayed knowing they would get close enough for practical purposes.

01-06-2012, 07:43 AM	#363
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	or half a whole __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

01-06-2012, 08:25 AM	#368
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	If he walks all the way around the hole, does he go around tha hole? __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

01-06-2012, 09:33 AM	#370
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Did we ever get correct answers for #36 and 37? __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

01-06-2012, 10:26 AM	#371
jimhelm a beautiful fool Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: 39.939705 Posts: 4,504	What if the hole digger was a shitman? __________________ There's a Shadow just behind me. Shrouding every step I take. Making every promise empty, pointing every finger at me. _tool

01-06-2012, 12:26 PM	#373
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	I don't understand what the answer for #37 says. Is the answer 24 eggs? Last weekend I bought a chemistry book like that - it's full of errors. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

01-06-2012, 08:18 AM	#365
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	City employees, eh?

01-06-2012, 08:23 AM	#367
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	In order to dig half a hole, he first has to dig a quarter of a hole. In order to dig a quarter of a hole, he first has to dig an eighth of a hole. In order to dig eighth of a hole, he first has to dig 1/16 of a hole. . . In order to dig 1/N of a hole, he first has to dig 1/2xN of a hole. IOW, he can not even leave home, let alone find a shovel, or walk to the work site.

01-06-2012, 08:34 AM	#369
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	He goes around A Hole. Get it? A hole?

01-06-2012, 03:56 PM	#374
Pete Zicato Turns out my CRS is a symptom of TMB. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chicago suburbs Posts: 2,916	HLJ is correct. The book answer is in error. I found a simple explanation elsewhere. Given the initial statement: 3 hens can lay 3 eggs in 1.5 days therefore 6 hens can lay 6 eggs in 1.5 days and 6 hens can lay 4 eggs in 1 day therefore 6 hens can lay 24 eggs in 6 days (already we see the error) and 6 hens can lay 28 eggs in 7 days __________________ Talk nerdy to me.

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