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

Home > Paradoxes
Achilles and the Tortoise (Posted on 2002-11-22) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Suppose that the swift Achilles is having a race with a tortoise. Since the tortoise is much slower, she gets a head start. When the tortoise has reached a given point a, Achilles starts. But by the time Achilles reaches a, the tortoise has already moved beyond point a, to point b. And by the time Achilles reaches b the tortoise has already moved a little bit farther along, to point c. Since this process goes on indefinitely, Achilles can never catch up with the tortoise.

How can this be?

Taken from - http://members.aol.com/kiekeben/zeno.html

See The Solution Submitted by Raveen    
Rating: 3.0769 (13 votes)

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
re: WellHal2006-04-22 23:35:13
Science to the rescue!Devin Mahnke2005-07-21 05:54:32
consider the followingJen2005-07-11 19:05:17
solution?CJ2005-06-17 02:10:18
Some Thoughtseh..Amon2005-05-11 01:23:29
not a solutionwhome?2005-01-23 19:57:49
The tortoise will get caughtGustavo2004-06-15 11:11:33
No SubjectPieater2004-03-11 09:02:44
Questionovertaking the tortoiseCaptain Paradox2004-01-04 11:56:45
SolutionThink physics and limit theory (solution)!Jeff2003-12-23 21:00:42
Solutionthis is not a paradox in wholeben2003-12-10 20:10:49
no paradoxC.B.2003-11-29 19:32:13
what if?Sam2003-11-26 14:40:26
re: It Can'tmichelle2003-11-11 18:30:42
What!? The tortoise...ratsnstuff2003-10-17 03:02:45
Math?vlad2003-10-09 10:26:37
WellLawrence2003-08-29 01:19:31
The tortoise and the hairy ParadoxEvan2003-08-20 05:51:53
re: Why is this a paradox?calla tah-n2003-05-23 10:58:06
simplecalla tah-n2003-05-23 10:54:59
re: re: Why is this a paradox?Berry2003-05-10 03:00:41
Old Stupid 'Paradox'Berry2003-05-10 02:53:10
Brane worldChaz2003-05-03 08:37:31
paradoxJon2003-04-11 06:53:27
Questionwhat?bik882003-03-15 14:24:16
re: Why is this a paradox?Chris2003-03-12 23:06:09
Why is this a paradox?Adam2003-03-03 08:50:18
incorrect assumption?craig2003-02-10 13:20:28
Solutioni don't know the mathematical solution, but...sach2002-12-10 10:49:32
It Can'tMatthew Bobbins2002-12-02 07:47:15
SolutionAchilles' heelTomM2002-11-22 21:22:04
Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (0)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (3)
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