I have a pencil that always rolls around on a slanted surface. One end is wider and heavier than the other. So whenever it rolls, it goes in a wide circle. Otherwise, the pencil is featureless, only becoming steadily wider towards one end.

The difference between the two diameters on the two ends is exactly 144 times smaller than the length of the pencil. If the pencil is pointing uphill on a slanted surface, how many times will it spin until it points downhill?

(In reply to But on the other hand.... by Penny)

"I just tried to roll a physical pencil through 0.0008680529392 of a spin.

It can't be done."

Really? Then how did you get it to roll 1 spin? You must have passed through 0.0008680529392 of a spin to get to 1 spin.

=)

Posted by nikki on 2004-02-26 17:47:21