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#1 2005-05-18 11:22:13

Milos
Member
Registered: 2005-05-06
Posts: 44

Horse race

King is dying. He has three sons. Sons have three horses. King has decided to organize a horse race and will give all of his property to the son whose horse is the last at the race. However, he wants race to be fair, meaning that he doesn't want sons to slow down their horses. What will he do?

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#2 2005-05-18 21:33:24

Zach
Member
Registered: 2005-03-23
Posts: 2,075

Re: Horse race

Just not tell them that whoever loses will get the property.


Boy let me tell you what:
I bet you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too.
And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you.

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#3 2005-05-18 21:43:23

MathsIsFun
Administrator
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 7,711

Re: Horse race

I must say ... that will do it!

There is probably more to it, though. I was thinking along the lines of "you cut the cake in half but get the smaller half" - some method of saying that you have to be last, but the average has to be more, or something ...


"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

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#4 2005-05-18 21:51:12

Zach
Member
Registered: 2005-03-23
Posts: 2,075

Re: Horse race

What cake?


Boy let me tell you what:
I bet you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too.
And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you.

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#5 2005-05-19 00:52:49

Vulcan
Member
Registered: 2005-04-23
Posts: 224

Re: Horse race

just let them race and say that whoever wins gets the property!
they'll go like the wind!


one day, i couldn't find my hat
then it occured to me that i didn't have one
so i didn't where it!!!

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#6 2005-05-19 01:02:27

MathsIsFun
Administrator
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 7,711

Re: Horse race

Ahhh ... the cake solution.

Tell a child who is dividing up a piece of cake that they will get the smallest piece after they have finished cutting. Interesting to watch the brain cells ticking over.


"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

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#7 2005-05-19 01:04:21

Vulcan
Member
Registered: 2005-04-23
Posts: 224

Re: Horse race

?!
cake?
i didnt say anything about cake!
why'd ya introduce food!

oh great.
i'm hungry now.


one day, i couldn't find my hat
then it occured to me that i didn't have one
so i didn't where it!!!

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#8 2005-05-19 07:23:07

Milos
Member
Registered: 2005-05-06
Posts: 44

Re: Horse race

I was not precise enough. He told them that the last one would have all of his property.

Last edited by Milos (2005-05-19 07:54:46)

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#9 2005-05-19 08:53:14

Roraborealis
Member
Registered: 2005-03-17
Posts: 1,594

Re: Horse race

Don't make the sons ride the horses. Just let the horses race themselves.


School is practice for the future. Practice makes perfect. But - nobody's perfect, so why practice?

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#10 2005-05-19 09:38:55

MathsIsFun
Administrator
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 7,711

Re: Horse race

Roraborealis wrote:

Don't make the sons ride the horses. Just let the horses race themselves.

They would probably just race to the nicest looking patch of grass and commence eating.


"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

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#11 2005-05-19 17:00:12

Milos
Member
Registered: 2005-05-06
Posts: 44

Re: Horse race

Sons have to ride the horses.

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#12 2005-05-19 19:02:46

Roraborealis
Member
Registered: 2005-03-17
Posts: 1,594

Re: Horse race

Then, just attatch the sons to the horses with their hands tied up! But attach them so they won't fall off. Or make them ride blindfolded.


School is practice for the future. Practice makes perfect. But - nobody's perfect, so why practice?

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#13 2005-05-19 20:21:42

Zach
Member
Registered: 2005-03-23
Posts: 2,075

Re: Horse race

Set fire to the sons.


Boy let me tell you what:
I bet you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too.
And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you.

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#14 2005-05-19 21:30:49

Roraborealis
Member
Registered: 2005-03-17
Posts: 1,594

Re: Horse race

Stick a carrot in front of each horse.


School is practice for the future. Practice makes perfect. But - nobody's perfect, so why practice?

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#15 2005-05-19 21:59:49

MathsIsFun
Administrator
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 7,711

Re: Horse race

This is some of the best lateral thinking EVER !


"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

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#16 2005-05-19 22:43:58

Zach
Member
Registered: 2005-03-23
Posts: 2,075

Re: Horse race

Overfeed the horses so they can't run.


Boy let me tell you what:
I bet you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too.
And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you.

Offline

#17 2005-05-19 22:55:42

Milos
Member
Registered: 2005-05-06
Posts: 44

Re: Horse race

Roraborealis wrote:

Then, just attatch the sons to the horses with their hands tied up! But attach them so they won't fall off. Or make them ride blindfolded.

smile Then sons wouldn't be involved in race (actively).

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#18 2005-05-19 22:59:31

Milos
Member
Registered: 2005-05-06
Posts: 44

Re: Horse race

Roraborealis wrote:

Stick a carrot in front of each horse.

That's good but the sons would still be trying to slow down the horses - so it wouldn't be a fair race after all

Last edited by Milos (2005-05-19 23:00:06)

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#19 2005-05-20 03:13:13

Roraborealis
Member
Registered: 2005-03-17
Posts: 1,594

Re: Horse race

Hmm, I need to know more about the sons' involvement.

Last edited by Roraborealis (2005-05-20 03:13:23)


School is practice for the future. Practice makes perfect. But - nobody's perfect, so why practice?

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#20 2005-05-20 10:30:40

MathsIsFun
Administrator
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 7,711

Re: Horse race

Three Sons. Sons have three horses. Does that make nine horses?


"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

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#21 2005-05-20 22:16:29

Roraborealis
Member
Registered: 2005-03-17
Posts: 1,594

Re: Horse race

I think I have the answer! Tell them that whoever wins the race gets the property!


School is practice for the future. Practice makes perfect. But - nobody's perfect, so why practice?

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#22 2005-05-20 23:08:14

Milos
Member
Registered: 2005-05-06
Posts: 44

Re: Horse race

MathsIsFun wrote:

Three Sons. Sons have three horses. Does that make nine horses?

Nope. Sons have three horses. 3 sons- have 3 horses, 1 son - has 1 horse.

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#23 2005-05-20 23:13:48

Milos
Member
Registered: 2005-05-06
Posts: 44

Re: Horse race

Roraborealis wrote:

I think I have the answer! Tell them that whoever wins the race gets the property!

smile:):)
Nice try. No it's not the solution.
But, it is very simple. King has to make them do something with horses.- it will be easier now, I think.

Last edited by Milos (2005-05-20 23:15:30)

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#24 2005-05-20 23:56:03

MathsIsFun
Administrator
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 7,711

Re: Horse race

Ride them backwards?


"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

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#25 2005-05-21 00:50:01

Vulcan
Member
Registered: 2005-04-23
Posts: 224

Re: Horse race

Milos wrote:
Roraborealis wrote:

I think I have the answer! Tell them that whoever wins the race gets the property!

smile:):)
Nice try. No it's not the solution.
But, it is very simple. King has to make them do something with horses.- it will be easier now, I think.

oh.....
does the king kill the horses and make them run on foot
or do they...........................
...........................


one day, i couldn't find my hat
then it occured to me that i didn't have one
so i didn't where it!!!

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