"I'd like a bowl of oatmeal, please."
"Hey, you're Doctor E. aren't you?  The fella who does that semester long contest open to any UNI student or Iowa high-school student."
"Yes, that's right.  May I please order a bowl of oatmeal?"
"Wow!  Doctor E, in my restaurant.  I take it you're still giving out a $60 grand prize, with prizes of $40 and $20 for runners-up, to the student or team that finishes with the most points?  Along with additional lovely prizes from Kadon Enterprises, makers of fine gamepuzzles since 1980?"
"You're correct again.  Now may I please have some -"
"Oatmeal?  You've got it.  I'll get it to you sure as you are going to get handsome certificates, suitable for framing, to all students with sufficiently high scores."
"Wonderful.  Do you take checks?"
"Do you have two forms of ID?"

Turning in the correct solution to this week’s puzzle by Thursday, October 25 will earn 2 puzzle points. Turning in a correct solution along with an original syllepsis will earn 3 puzzle points.

A variant of the following problem allegedly is part of the Microsoft employee entrance exam. Doctor E does not believe it.

Pepita, Esteban, Uncle Pio, and Don Jaime wish to cross the bridge of San Luis Rey in Peru.  They wish to cross it quickly, for the bridge seems unsteady.  The narrow bridge can only bear the weight of two of them at one time.To make matters even WORSE, it is pitch black out and they only have a single flashlight. Any party who crosses must have the flashlight with him or her. The flashlight must be walked across the bridge; it can't be thrown.

Any pair of people who cross walk at the slower one's pace.  For example, if Pepita and Uncle Pio walked across together, they would take 5 minutes to do so. 

What is the shortest amount of time in which they could cross the bridge, and how do they do it?

In general, no “tricks” are used to solve this problem. You can’t have them light a candle, have one go on the others’ shoulders, build a new bridge, or anything like that. Just solve the problem as stated.

Crossing rates:

Because Doctor E loves you, he will give you this hint - They can do it in less than 19 minutes.

The deadline for sending in solutions has expired.  But feel free to take some time to work on this one, and click here to see the answer.   Alternatively, click here to see the current challenge.

Web Page design: Doug Shaw