Winter 1999
Week #4
If you are fast enough, then you can solve
the WSU Math Department's                                               

CAN THEY MAKE IT ALIVE???
 
 
Four men can cross a bridge in 1, 2, 5, and 10 minutes respectively. It is late at night and they have one flashlight between them. We know that:

1. At most only two men can cross at a time (they must go at the slower man's rate).
2. They need the flashlight to cross the bridge.
3. The bridge will blow up in 17 minutes.

Can all four men make it across the bridge alive?  Explain why or why not?

Solution

Back to W99 Archives