After figuring how to plant your 10 trees in 5 rows, the tree keeper walks up to you.

I like your idea, but sometimes I get vicious squirrels that come and steal all the fruit off it...

I am installing some garden path such that it is harmless to humans but will shock squirrels. (This means the squirrels won't pass over it.) Can you place those 10 trees along 5 lines of straight garden path so that there are 4 trees on each garden path and there are some trees on the inside?

How would you arrange the trees this time?

(In reply to Not so simple by Gamer)

1) Gamer, you are not the only one who is confused. I was confused at the beginning because I truly believe that a slightly modified version of the solution to the 10 trees problem is A solution to this one.

2) I couldn't tell what you meant by "Now, if the lines are ignored that go through tree X, tree X is on the inside if there are lines that go all around it." I'll probably feel dumb for not getting it, but please clarify.

3) It's not difficult to figure out that the repeat-solution is not what you were looking for. But that doesn't change the fact that it is still a solution.

4) I don't see how my solution has the trees in a curved line. I was considering a realistic 3D park, where you have a path that has width and the trees that are "on" the path might actually be a foot or so off the path. Perhaps this was an incorrect theory.

Posted by nikki on 2003-10-30 18:50:27