tom@elecvax.OZ (Tom Vasak) (08/29/84)
<Arctic Explorer Food> The Arctic Explorer Problem does not require that Mr Explorer (hereinafter known as Scott) return safely to the starting point. Only his assistants (herinafter known as Shackleton, Mawson and Amundsen) are required to survive! This observation somewhat simplifies the solution (c.f. Y. Gupta's soln). Scott, Shackleton, Mawson and Amundsen all depart from base camp with 4 days food and supplies each. After travelling for 1 day, Amundsen decides to return to base camp, which will require him to retain 1 day's food and supplies. He gives Mawson and Shackleton 1 day's F&S each, restoring them to a full load. After another day's travelling, Mawson and Shackleton abandon Scott to his unfortunate fate, but being merciful, they retain only sufficient F&S for them to return to base camp (i.e. 2 days' F&S each), leaving Scott with a full load, being his own 2 days' F&S, and 1 day from each of Mawson and Shackleton. Scott, mistakenly beleaving (sic) that the outpost will have plenty of good old Yorkshire Pud, continues for four days to the outpost, where his British Army stiff upper lip is matched by fingers, toes, arms, legs ....... Tom Vasak decvax!mulga!unsweecs!tom John O'Neill decvax!mulga!unsweecs!jlo