GAME: MindTrap

**Stalemate** · February 15th, 2005, 05:49 PM

Submitted by 3fingersalute:

An explorer wishes to cross the desolate Saandhi Desert on foot.

It will take six days, but any one person can take enough food and water for only four days. Fortunately, the local village can supply him with men who will act as bearers, but they charge 100 pieces of gold per day for their work.

What is the least number of bearers he needs to help him make the journey, and what will it cost him in wages?

__________
Two people and 600 gold.
On leaving the village. Each person will have four days worth of provisions. At the end of the first day, the first carrier will give 1 days food to the other carrier and the explorer, bringing them both back up to 4 days of provisions. That carrier will then use the last days provision to return to the villiage. The second carrier and explorer will proceed another day, at the end leaving them each with 3 days provisions. The carrier will then give one days provisions to the explorer, bringing him back up to 4 days worth. The carrier will then return to the villiage on the remaining two days of food and water. The explorer will then have enough provisions to make the rest of the trip on his own.

**Stalemate** · February 15th, 2005, 05:51 PM

Riddle submitted by Deity:

To unravel me
You need a key.
No key that was made by locksmith's hand,
But a key that only I will understand.
What am I?

___________
A cypher.

**Stalemate** · February 15th, 2005, 05:52 PM

Submitted by 3fingersalute:

What kind of dog, found in every country, has legs but never runs?

___________
A dead one.

**Stalemate** · February 15th, 2005, 05:53 PM

Submitted by 3fingersalute:

A lady signals to the headwaiter in a restaurant, and says, "There's a
fly in my tea." The waiter says, "No problem, I will bring you a fresh
cup of tea."

A few minutes later she shouts, "Get the manager! This is
the same cup of tea!"

How did she know?

__________
She had already sweetened her tea and could taste it when the waiter brought the cup back.

**Deity** · February 15th, 2005, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by a d e p t

Submitted by 3fingersalute:

A lady signals to the headwaiter in a restaurant, and says, "There's a
fly in my tea." The waiter says, "No problem, I will bring you a fresh
cup of tea."

A few minutes later she shouts, "Get the manager! This is
the same cup of tea!"

How did she know?

She had already put sugar in the tea and could taste it when the waiter brought the cup back.

**Matridom** · February 15th, 2005, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by a d e p t

Submitted by 3fingersalute:

A lady signals to the headwaiter in a restaurant, and says, "There's a
fly in my tea." The waiter says, "No problem, I will bring you a fresh
cup of tea."

A few minutes later she shouts, "Get the manager! This is
the same cup of tea!"

How did she know?

she had put sugar in it before... it came back sweet.

**Stalemate** · February 15th, 2005, 06:01 PM

A man is waiting in a bus station and overhears another two men's conversation. They must have met after a long time, because they are talking about theirs families.

"I'm an engineer in a big factory and I make good money. I'm marrying this month and because I've got no best man I would like to ask you to be," said the first.

"I would be honoured. I'll bring my family. You know I got married a long time ago and I've got three sons. Let see if you can find their ages."

After a while the first man asks: "Give me a clue!" "Let's see, the youngest one wears a nice pair of red shorts." "Be serious!" "OK, their ages added make the exact noumber of the levels of the building behind you and the product of their ages is 36. Now let see you at work, Mr. Perfect!"

That was all the help given him, but the man's bus arrived and he had to go. However, he was very courious and he tried to find the children's ages, but could not.

Can you help him? There is only one solution.

__________
2, 3 and 6.
The main information is that the product of the children'ages is 36. If we consider that a eight-year old boy is no longer a child we can accept those solutions: (1,1,36), (1,2,18), (1,3,12), (1,4,9), (1,6,6), (2,2,9), (2,3,6), (3,3,4). But not all of these are correct. The question states that the youngest child wears shorts and this infers that the child is likely older than a year old. Also, the question doesn't allow for twins (there is a youngest child). If we consider this the solutions remaining is: (2,3,6).

**Stalemate** · February 15th, 2005, 06:03 PM

I'll check answers and give out points tomorrow.

Tomorrow will most likely be the last installment to reach 500 questions too.

**Matridom** · February 15th, 2005, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by a d e p t

Submitted by 3fingersalute:

What kind of dog, found in every country, has legs but never runs?

A dead one?

**Matridom** · February 15th, 2005, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by a d e p t

A man is waiting in a bus station and overhears another two men's conversation. They must have met after a long time, because they are talking about theirs families.

"I'm an engineer in a big factory and I make good money. I'm marrying this month and because I've got no best man I would like to ask you to be," said the first.

"I would be honoured. I'll bring my family. You know I got married a long time ago and I've got three sons. Let see if you can find their ages."

After a while the first man asks: "Give me a clue!" "Let's see, the youngest one wears a nice pair of red shorts." "Be serious!" "OK, their ages added make the exact noumber of the levels of the building behind you and the product of their ages is 36. Now let see you at work, Mr. Perfect!"

That was all the help given him, but the man's bus arrived and he had to go. However, he was very courious and he tried to find the children's ages, but could not.

Can you help him? There is only one solution.

2 - 3 - 6

**Deity** · February 15th, 2005, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by a d e p t

Submitted by 3fingersalute:

An explorer wishes to cross the desolate Saandhi Desert on foot.

It will take six days, but any one person can take enough food and water for only four days. Fortunately, the local village can supply him with men who will act as bearers, but they charge 100 pieces of gold per day for their work.

What is the least number of bearers he needs to help him make the journey, and what will it cost him in wages?

Two people and 600 gold.

On leaving the village. Each person will have four days worth of provisions. At the end of the first day, the first carrier will give 1 days food to the other carrier and the explorer, bringing them both back up to 4 days of provisions. That carrier will then use the last days provision to return to the villiage. The second carrier and explorer will proceed another day, at the end leaving them each with 3 days provisions. The carrier will then give one days provisions to the explorer, bringing him back up to 4 days worth. The carrier will then return to the villiage on the remaining two days of food and water. The explorer will then have enough provisions to make the rest of the trip on his own.

**RejectionMan** · February 15th, 2005, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by a d e p t

Submitted by 3fingersalute:

An explorer wishes to cross the desolate Saandhi Desert on foot.

It will take six days, but any one person can take enough food and water for only four days. Fortunately, the local village can supply him with men who will act as bearers, but they charge 100 pieces of gold per day for their work.

What is the least number of bearers he needs to help him make the journey, and what will it cost him in wages?

4 bearers * 8 days (includes return trips) * 100 = 3,200 gold

Bearer # Days Stockpile Why
1 & 2 ->1 6
1 & 2 <-1 3 bearer 1 & 2 take 3 back with them
3 & 4 & E ->1 0 bearer 3,4 & E restock (carying 12)
3 & 4 & E -->2 9 3 used on day 2
3 & 4 <--2 4 bearers 3 & 4 take 5 back with them
E ------>6 0 E carrys on from day 2 fully provisioned

doh! stupid me i knew i was toteing to much back!

**3fingersalute** · February 15th, 2005, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by a d e p t

49 players

---------------------------------------------------

Deity: 395

3fingersalute: 361

---------------------------------------------------

Well Deity, with only 5 questions left, and me needing 34 points to even tie it up, I must admit defeat............Even if I submitted the last 5 and you answered none, I can't win. (Not to mention the points you've earned tonight!)

I tried, and came close, but I will have to settle for 2nd place. Hats of to you Deity, you are a more than worthy opponent.

Also, how about a big round of applause for our wondeful host:

a d e p t

Hope everything works out for you adept, and you and your family will be in my thoughts.

Hope to see you all again sometime in the future!!

**NooNoo** · February 16th, 2005, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by a d e p t

Riddle submitted by Deity:

To unravel me
You need a key.
No key that was made by locksmith's hand,
But a key that only I will understand.
What am I?

A legend

You know, the sort you get on maps to show you what the symbols mean.

Or an encrypted code.