|
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
Daily
Brain Teaser / Puzzle
December 10, 2009
Follow
us on FACEBOOK
or TWITTER
Previous
Days Teaser -- Want More? -- Next
Thomas lives near a train station. If he takes the Centerville train going north, he can get to the Centerville Mall in 15 minutes. If he boards the Abington train going south, he can get to the Abington Mall in 15 minutes also. Since he likes the two malls about the same, he lets chance determine which mall he'll go to. He simply goes to the station at a random time. If the Centerville train comes first, he takes it to the Centerville Mall. If the Abington train comes first, he takes it to the Abington Mall. The two trains arrive at the station equally often every 10 minutes. However, Thomas finds that he ends up going to the Abington Mall much more often. In fact, he goes to Abington 8 times out of 10! He is very puzzled by the situation.
What condition in the train schedule would allow for the fact that Thomas ends up on the Abington train 8 times out of 10?
VIEW
SOLUTION BELOW
THE
SOLUTION
The Abington train comes 2 minutes before the Centerville train. The Centerville train will come first only if Thomas arrives during the 2-minute space between the Abington train and the Centerville train. In contrast, there is an 8-minute space between the Centerville train and the Abington train, so Thomas has an 8/10 or 4/5 chance of arriving during this time and catching the Abington train.
|
