Here, in the middle of this confounded desert, is the lost city of Ishtar. To reach it I will have to travel overland by foot from the coast. On a trek like this each man can only carry enough rations for five days and I calculate that the farthest we can travel in one day is 30 miles. The map that I obtained states that the city is 120 miles from my starting point. What I am trying to figure out is the fewest number of men, including myself, that I will need in our party so that I alone can reach the city, stay over night, and then return to the coast without running out of supplies.
Can you discover the answer to this mystery?
Our intrepid explorer will need three other men in his party to accomplish his mission. Here's how the marching orders will go:
ReplyDelete4 men X 5 day's ration = 20 day's rations
First day - Four day's rations are used up. One man goes back using one day's ration for the return trip.
Second day - Remaining three men use up three day's rations. One man goes back using two day's rations for the return trip.
Third day - Remaining two men use up two day's rations. One man goes back using three day's rations for the return trip.
Fourth day - Remaining man uses up one day's rations. He reaches city and stays the night. The next day he returns to coast using up four day's rations.