[net.math] Flames to warm up the North Pole

majka@ubc-vision.CDN (Marc Majka) (08/27/84)

[Bugbuster]

> What is the minimum amount of people that it would take to assure that 
  Mr. Explorer reaches the out post and all his assistants make it back 
  to Alaska?  

Notice that Mr. Explorer doesn't return. Thus:

Person-days = Time + ((Time * 2) * N)
Food-days   = Food * (N + 1)

> Mr. Explorer is off to an outpost at the north pole that is a six-day 
  hike from Alaska across a desolate expanse of snow and ice.

Time = 6 

> One man can carry only enough food and supplies for four days.

Food = 4 

So Person-days = 6 + 12N  and Food-days = 4 + 4N.  If nobody starves:

Person-days = Food-days
6 + 12N     = 4 + 4N
8N          = -2
N           = -1/4

So Mr. Explorer must take -1/4 of an assistant.

>>>                                                        <<<
>>>  Don't we have anything better to discuss on net/math  <<<
>>>        than Baby-logic and trivial arithmetic?         <<<
>>>                                                        <<<

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