Logic Puzzles · Billy-B
Logic Puzzle #49
From Billy-B's legendary 1001 Puzzle Collection — preserved on Puzz.com since 1998.
Puzzle #49
A group of 4 people, Andy, Brenda, Carl, & Dana, arrive in a car near a friend's house, who is having a large party. It is raining heavily, & the group was forced to park around the block from the house because of the lack of available parking spaces due to the large number of people at the party. The group has only 1 umbrella, & agrees to share it by having Andy, the fastest, walk with each person into the house, & then return each time. It takes Andy 1 minute to walk each way, 2 minutes for Brenda, 5 minutes for Carl, & 10 minutes for Dana. It thus appears that it will take a total of 19 minutes to get everyone into the house. However, Dana indicates that everyone can get into the house in 17 minutes by a different method. How? The individuals must use the umbrella to get to & from the house, & only 2 people can go at a time (& no funny stuff like riding on someone's back, throwing the umbrella, etc.).
Reveal Answer
There are 2 possible answers, both of which are almost the same: Answer 1: Andy & Brenda walk together to the house (2 minutes), & Andy returns (1 minute) — Carl & Dana walk to the house (10 minutes), & Brenda returns with the umbrella (2 minutes). Andy & Brenda walk to the house again (2 minutes). Answer 2: Andy & Brenda walk together to the house (2 minutes), & Brenda returns (2 minutes). Carl & Dana walk to the house (10 minutes), & Andy returns with the umbrella (1 minute). Andy & Brenda walk to the house again (2 minutes).
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