Tom and Alex were two men working at a construction site. One day, Alex made a challenge to his stronger and faster counterpart: "I'll make you a bet: one after the other, we run with the wheelbarrow to the end of the building and back. Whoever's quickest wins. But there has to be one thing in the wheelbarrow all the time, and I choose what it is. I bet you £50" (for the Americans on the site, that's about $100).

"You're on," replied Tom.

Alex then chose what to put in the wheelbarrow. They had the race, and Alex won. Tom handed over the £50 in disgust.

What did Alex put in the wheelbarrow?

Alex.

 

Tom and alex are to go with a wheelbarrow to the end of the bulding and back. Alex is allowed to choose what he puts in Tom's wheelbarrow. Suppose he puts himself in. As Tom goes to the end of the building hauling the wheelbarrow, Alex is going along with him. Here is where there can be two ends.

 

End 1) Nearing the end of the race, while Alex is in the wheelbarrow, he stands up. Right before  the race ends, he can jump out. Either he then crosses the finish line first, or the 'object' in the wheelbarrow did not stay in all the time. So Alex wins.

 

End 2) Alex can stay in the wheelbarrow. As he is in the front of the wheelbarrow, and Tom is in the back, Alex would simply cross the 'finish line' before Tom, therefore winning.

 

 

 

Im not sure, but i think this may be the solution. Any ideas?

Posted by Jake on 2005-03-24 18:37:36