[email protected]
Thu, 6 Aug 1998 02:56:45 EDT
For those of you who like to solve problems. Allegedly, this is one
>> of the questions for potential Microsoft employees. I must warn you,
>> you can really get caught up trying to solve this problem.
>>
>> Reportedly, one guy solved it by writing a C program, although that
>> took him 37 minutes to develop (compiled and ran on the 1st try
>> though). Another guy solved it in three minutes. A group of 50, at
>> Motorola, couldn't figure it out at all. See how long it takes you.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Here we go...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "U2" has a concert that starts in 17 minutes and they must all cross a
>> bridge to get there. All four men begin on the same side of the bridge.
>>
>> You must help them across to the other side. It is night.
>> There is one flashlight. A maximum of two people can cross at one time.
>>
>> Any party who crosses, either 1 or 2 people, must have the flashlight
>> with
>> them. The flashlight must be walked back and forth, >it cannot be
>> thrown,
>> etc. Each band member walks at a different speed. A pair must walk
>> together at the rate of the slower man's pace:
>>
>> Bono:- 1 minute to cross
>> Edge:- 2 minutes to cross
>> Adam:- 5 minutes to cross
>> Larry:-10 minutes to cross
>>
>> For example: if Bono and Larry walk across first, 10 minutes have
>> elapsed
>> when they get to the other side of the bridge. If Larry then returns
>> with
>> the flashlight, a total of 20 minutes have passed and you have failed
>> the
>> mission.
>>
>> Notes: There is no trick behind this. It is the simple movement of
>> resources in the appropriate order. There are two known answers to this
>>
>> problem. This is based on a question Microsoft gives to all prospective
>>
>> employees.
>>
>> Note: Microsoft expects you to answer this question in under 5
>> minutes!
>>
>> Good Luck!
>> >>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Wed Aug 05 1998 - 23:59:05 PDT