james@ur-laser.uucp (James Chavin) (08/27/84)
I am posting the solution to the hens amd the eggs. The posted solution
is one I received from Chris Stassen. I know that a lot of people claim that
a half a hen can't lay half an egg, but you must remember that it is only a rate
If you don't believe me, try chopping a hen in half and see how long it takes
to lay half an egg. Thanks to all the people who sent me answers.
James Chavin
> If a hen-and-a-half can lay an egg-and-a-half in an hour-and-a-half,
> how long does it take two hens to lay three eggs?
Assuming that any hen can always lay the same number of eggs in
a given time period, then:
(1) [Assumption] (eggs)/(hens)(time) is constant.
(2) [Given] 1.5 eggs, 1.5 hens, and 1.5 hours.
(3) [(1) & (2)] For any hens (H), eggs (E) and time (T),
E/HT is always the same number. Since
we have one E, H, and T, we know that
every E/HT = (1.5)/(1.5)(1.5) = 2/3.
(4) [Given] 2 hens, 3 eggs, unknown time.
(5) [(3) & (4)] E/HT = 2/3 --> (3)/(2)T = 2/3
--> T = 9/4 = 2.25 hours.
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