| Feb 25, 2006 @ 5:02 PM |
The Farmer's Daughter
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Magickman
Posts: 132
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The farmer had a beautiful young daughter, and there was a young man who asked the farmer for his daughter's hand. "Well," said the farmer, "You can marry her if you can solve this riddle."
Go down, past the barn, to the apple orchard. You must there pick a certain number of apples. There are three fence posts you must pass, on the way back to the farmhouse. At the first fence post, you must leave half of the apples, plus one half of an apple. At the second fence post, you must leave half of the remaining apples, plus one half of an apple. At the final fence post, again, you must leave half of the remaining apples, plus one half of an apple. There must be exactly one apple left, and give that apple to my daughter, who I shall allow you to marry. You must not, however cut or divide, any of the apples. How many apples must you pick?
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| Feb 25, 2006 @ 10:15 PM |
The Farmer's Daughter |
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SweetNapaGuy
Posts: 8,526
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Just a guess: 15
15 / 2 = 7.5 + 0.5 = 8 at first fence post. 15 - 8 = 7 left
7 / 2 = 3.5 + 0.5 = 4 at second fence post. 7 - 4 = 3 left
3 / 2 = 1.5 + 0.5 = 2 at third fence post. 3 - 2 = 1 left
Farmer's daughter gets an apple.
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| Feb 25, 2006 @ 10:19 PM |
The Farmer's Daughter
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SweetNapaGuy
Posts: 8,526
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There was a riddle about a man left his sons 17 cars. He gave 1/2 to the eldest son. He gave 1/3 to the second eldest. And he gave 1/9 to the youngest, the damn slacker.
How did the executor of the will stop the feud? The first son had 17/2 = 8.5 cars. The second had 17/3 = 5.67 cars. The youngest had 17/9 = 1.89 cars.
Did he get out the chainsaw and do some hacking? Or did he solve the riddle.
Can you solve the riddle?
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| Feb 25, 2006 @ 11:22 PM |
The Farmer's Daughter |
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Magickman
Posts: 132
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15 is the correct answer, and SweetNapaGuy gets to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter.
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| Feb 25, 2006 @ 11:35 PM |
The Farmer's Daughter
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Magickman
Posts: 132
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The executor distributed the cars as follows:
9 cars to the eldest son
6 cars to the middle son
2 cars to the youngest son.
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17 cars total
Each son received his full allotment, under the terms of the will, and a little extra, as well. None of them could complain about being shortchanged.
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| Feb 25, 2006 @ 11:55 PM |
The Farmer's Daughter |
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Wulfchyld
Posts: 459
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Exactly how does one leave half an apple when you can not cut nor divide any of the apples?
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| Feb 26, 2006 @ 12:08 AM |
The Farmer's Daughter
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SweetNapaGuy
Posts: 8,526
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@ Wulfchyld:
You don't leave half an apple. You leave half of the stuff you have left (which, in the case of odd numbers, will be several whole apples plus half an apple) plus half an apple (making the half apple from above a full apple).
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Personally, I prefer using number theory to prove the nth term of a series, then find out the nth sum of a series, then use inductive proofs to prove my formulas are correct. It's what I use to get through REALLY boring meetings. :)
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| Feb 26, 2006 @ 12:20 AM |
The Farmer's Daughter |
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SweetNapaGuy
Posts: 8,526
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@ MagicMan:
Actually, the answer is: the executor put his car in with the rest of the classic cars. Then there are 18 cars, and the total of the sons' cars is 17/18, leaving one car (the executor's, one presumes, though the sons could let him take a Ferrari if they felt generous).
Without adding in the extra car, you have shares totalling 17/18 times 17 = 16.055 cars, with 0.944 cars left over.
Still, close. :)
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| Feb 26, 2006 @ 6:01 AM |
The Farmer's Daughter
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Thunderscribe
Posts: 419
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Sorry, but shouldn't this thread be in "quizzes and games"?
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