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September 06, 2004 Vol 75, no. 2F
Brain Teaser: ANSWERMr. Smith owns an old-fashioned
toaster than takes only two slices of bread at a time, toasting only
one side of each slice. To toast the other side you must turn the slice
over and put it back in the toaster. It takes one minute to toast one
side. If he wants to toast both sides of three pieces of bread, can
he do it in less than four minutes?
Answer: Yes. Lets call
the slices A, B, and C. Each slice has side 1 and 2. First minute: toast
sides A1 and B1. Remove the slices, turn B around and put it back into
the toaster. Put A aside and put C in the toaster. Second minute: toast
sides B2 and C1. Remove the slices, turn C around and put back in the
toaster. Put B aside (it is now toasted on both sides) and put A back
in the toaster. Third minute: Toast sides A2 and C2. All sides of all
three slices are now toasted. There was no winner this week. |
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