In the puzzle Four people on a Bridge we met four people who needed to cross a bridge at night. In this puzzle, there are five people who must cross two sequential bridges at night. As in the original puzzle, there are some hindrances:

The bridges can only support two people crossing at a time.

Each person has a different speed in which they can cross: 10 minutes, 7 minutes, 5 minutes, 2 minutes, and 1 minute.

They have only two flashlights to share among them.

What is the shortest amount of time it will take for all five people to cross both bridges?

The two bridges are sequential. Does that mean that our five people can cross the first, then wait in the middle long enough to swap flashlights before crossing the second?

And can there be two people on the first bridge and two on the second bridge at the same time?

Sorry if this has already been answered, I don't want to look in case I accidentally see the solution.

Edited on July 1, 2005, 3:30 am

Posted by Amber on 2005-07-01 03:17:38