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Lateral Thinking XIX

Posted: May 13th, 2009, 2:51 am
by c-square
Here's one:

A young boy, a teenage girl, a middle-age lady and an old man are standing on one side of a bridge at night.  The bridge can only hold two people at a time, and they only have one lamp by which to see.  They can't cross the bridge without the lamp.  Their speeds crossing the bridge are:

Young Boy: 2 minutes
Teen Girl: 1 minute
Lady: 5 minutes
Old Man: 10 minutes

At the other side of the bridge is a landing where they all can stand safely.  From that landing, there's a narrow path that goes down to a huge river below the bridge.  Again, only two of them can walk the path at a time, and they cannot walk it without the lamp.  Their times going down and back up the path are as follows:

Young Boy - Down: 1 minute  Up: 4 minutes (he has short legs)
Teen Girl - Down: 2 minutes  Up: 3 minutes
Lady - Down: 4 minutes  Up: 2 minutes
Old Man - Down: 10 minutes  Up: 25 minutes

Question:
What's the fastest possible way for them all to reach the river?  ;D

Re: Lateral Thinking XIV

Posted: May 13th, 2009, 3:59 am
by S.H.
Spoiler:
17+21 = 38mins?
By the way, it's LT XIX :P

Re: Lateral Thinking XIV

Posted: May 13th, 2009, 10:40 am
by akai-kun
This one has already been posted here some times - in another version...
But still, it is good.

Re: Lateral Thinking XIX

Posted: May 13th, 2009, 12:16 pm
by c-square
S.H. wrote:
Spoiler:
17+21 = 38mins?
By the way, it's LT XIX :P
Nope!  There's a faster way.  ;)

Oh, and oops! on the roman numerals.  Just fixed it.

Re: Lateral Thinking XIX

Posted: May 13th, 2009, 12:17 pm
by c-square
akai-kun wrote: This one has already been posted here some times - in another version...
But still, it is good.
Ahh... It may seem so, but has it?  ;)

Re: Lateral Thinking XIX

Posted: May 13th, 2009, 7:05 pm
by Holmes
This good, seeing the Lateral Thinking continueing, thanks! Thinking about it.

Re: Lateral Thinking XIX

Posted: May 14th, 2009, 7:39 pm
by Holmes
The one you´re saying is Lateral Thinking V. That one caused some headaches...

Re: Lateral Thinking XIX

Posted: May 17th, 2009, 3:42 am
by c-square
Okay, time for a hint:

What is the fastest possible way for them all to reach the river?

Re: Lateral Thinking XIX

Posted: May 17th, 2009, 5:01 am
by S.H.
Fastest way : Using the force of gravity to go down the river by jumping?  ;D (just a joke)

Re: Lateral Thinking XIX

Posted: May 17th, 2009, 7:55 pm
by c-square
S.H. wrote: Fastest way : Using the force of gravity to go down the river by jumping?  ;D (just a joke)
Pin Pon!  That's the right answer!!!  They all jump off the bridge.  ;D 
And I'm not joking either!  After all, this *is* a lateral thinking question, not a math question.