Quiz for the day.

[davywavy]

You are an Egyptian trader with 10,000 lb of hay in Cairo that you have to get to Damascus, 1,000 miles away.
Your only transport is a camel that will not move unless fed with hay, which it eats at a rate of 1lb per mile.
What is the greatest amount of hay you can get to Damascus?

Explain your answers, and a prize for anyone who gets a higher (justifiable) answer than I did :)

Comments

[robinbloke.livejournal.com]

How much can the camel carry?

[adze.livejournal.com]

Which is exactly what I was going to ask...

Depends.

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

Assuming the camel can carry / tow the whole 10,000lbs.

1 - would it still need 1lb per day regardless of how much it's towing?

2 - how much could you sell the camel for?

Take the hay half way (down to 9,500 lbs). Persuade purchaser in Damascus to meet you half way. How? Tell him he can either have 9,000lbs or 9,500lbs to sell on at a profit. He'll still incur costs getting half way, so sell the first 9,000lbs at normal price & the remaining 500lbs cheaper (say half price). He gets 9,500lbs, you get paid for (say) 9,250lbs, which is better than the 9,000lbs you'd be paid for if you went all the way yourself.

Alternatively, remember you need to keep back 1,000lbs to get home, so you only have 8,000lbs to sell. Move house :p

Re: Depends.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

I know, I know, see my next post.