There is a small town situated by a barbarian colony. The population in this town is very small, but they live well. Upon seeing the villagers in this town so happy, a group of thirty two barbarians sneak up and position themselves around the city. All the barbarians fired at exactly the same time, and every bullet went over 3 villager's heads before it killed another person, including anyone who may have been shot already. If no villager was at the same place at the time (and all villagers were in the town) when the simultaneous shooting occurred, what is the fewest amount of villagers in the town? (Note: "Around" means actually around. A line going around the city would work, but one going out of the city would not.)

(In reply to re(2): Possible solution - only 3 villagers by SilverKnight)

Good! I'm not sure putting barbarians on two sides constitutes "surrounding" the village, but on the other hand I think we've gone a long way from what Gamer intended. I think the 32 barbarians in a circle, and actually killing villagers instead of each other, is more what the problem intended. Like in your first few posts. Since then it has just gotten silly.....

Posted by Brian Wainscott on 2004-02-05 14:36:08