All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > General
Gassed Up Racing (Posted on 2009-11-02) Difficulty: 2 of 5
A race car is set to make a lap around a track. The track has fuel depots spaced around it. If all the fuel from all the depots is put into the tank of the race car, it has exactly enough fuel to drive once around the track before running out of fuel.

The race car is to start at one of the depots, pick up the fuel and continue to the next, pick up that fuel, and so on until the car reaches its starting point or runs out of gas. (The car has no fuel before picking up the fuel at the starting depot.)

Is it always possible to choose a starting depot so the car can make the complete lap?

  Submitted by Brian Smith    
No Rating
Solution: (Hide)
It is always possible to find a suitable starting point.

Charlie provides this solution.
Larry proved it by induction.
Jer provides some very good comments about what happens if the car goes in the other direction.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
Some ThoughtsThinking about extensions (solved them too)Jer2009-11-03 15:15:28
SolutionInductionLarry2009-11-03 02:23:00
Complete circuitbrianjn2009-11-02 23:29:30
Solutionsolution (spoiler)Charlie2009-11-02 13:54:02
Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (1)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (6)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information