An easier version of this puzzle is here.

A large panel needs to be moved through a corridor, the panel is tall as the corridor. The corridor is A feet wide before a right angle turn, after the turn, it is B feet wide. What is the maximum length of the panel that can pass through this corner.

Overhead view of the hallway:

+------------+---
|           /   |
|          /    |B ft
|         /     |
|        /+------
|       / |
|      /  |
|     /   |
|    /    |
|   /     |
|  /      |
| /       |
|/        |
+<-A ft-->|

the smalest size of the panel is when he makes 45 degree angles with the walls (any wall )(that's taken into consideration if u ttake only the smallest of the 2 angles given for every wall) .it's a isoscelus and straight  triangle. bcause of the 45 degrees angles 2 sides are equal to x+y and the other one which  is the smallest length of the panel is (x+y)sqrt(2).

Posted by ketter on 2005-01-21 10:47:58