Math Is Fun Forum

Hello, bobbym!

Your reasoning is correct: the rope hangs straight down and straight up.
So this means that the poles are 0 feet apart.

It was meant to be a trick question ... with an unexpected answer.
. . (And all that stuff about catenaries was just misdirection.)
But I ruined it with my typo . . . sorry!
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I've been a Tom Lehrer fan since his first 10-inch LP came out in the 1950's.
I have all his songbooks and know the lyrics to most of his songs.
(Sadly though, my voice is awful.)

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I love this type of puzzle!

I first saw it in one of Martin Gardner's books (back in the Jurassic Period).
The solution does not require extensive Algebra, just some Common Sense.

For those not familiar with the approach, here it is . . .

The product of the three ages is 36.
There are several sets of three factors with a product of 36,
. . so Math B needed more information.

He was told that the sum of the ages is that house number.

He made this list:
. . .

Since Math B could see that house number, he would immediately know the ages.

But he needed more information.
This means that the sum was duplicated on the list: (1,6,6)=13 , (2,2,9) = 13

The final answer established that there is an oldest boy.

Therefore, the ages are: 2, 2 and 9.
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Centuries ago, the Pope decreed that all Jews had to leave Rome.
There was, of curse, a huge outcry from the Jewish community.
The Pope agreed to have a debate wth a leader of the Jews.
If the Jewish leader won the debate, the Jews could stay.
If the Pope won, the Jews would have to leave Rome.

The Jewish leaders met and could not decide on a representative.
In exasperation, they chose Moishe, a modest matzo baker.

Since the Pope did not speak Yiddish and Moishe knew no Latin,
it was agreed that it was to be a "silent" debate.

On the day of the great debate, the Pope and Moishe sat opposite
each other for a full minute.

Then the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers.
Moishe looked back and raised one finger.

Next the Pope raised a finger and move in it a circle over his head.
Moishe pointed at the floor.

The Pope brought out a communion wafer and chalice of wine.
Moishe took out an apple.

The Pope stood up and said, "I concede the debate.
This man has bested me. The Jews can stay."

Later the Cardinals asked, "Your Holiness, what happened?"

The Pope said, "I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity.
He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that
there was still one God common to both our religions.
Then I waved my finger around to show him that God was
all around us. He pointed to the ground to tell me that
God was also right here with us. I pulled out the wine
and wafer to show that God absolves us of our sins.
He pulled out an apple to remind me of original sin.
He had an answer for everything. What could I do?"

Meanwhile, the rabbis were asking Moishe what happened.

"Well," said Moishe, "He said, 'You Jews have three days
to get out of Italy.' And I shot him a bird."

"Then he said, "The whole city will be cleared of Jews.'
And I said 'No, we're staying right here.'"

"Then what happened?" asked a rabbi.

"Who knows? said Moishe. "We broke for lunch."

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Sister Mary and Sister Eva went grocery shopping one evening.
While driving home, a vampire swooped down and landed on their hood.

Sister Mary sweved the car back and forth violently, but the vampire held on.

"Sister Eva!" she shouted, "Throw our garlic at him."
Sister Eva leaned out her window and threw handfuls of garlic at him.
He winced and snarled but held on.

"Sister Eva! . Throw our holy water on him!"
Sister Eva lean out and sprayed their flask of holy water on him.
His face was covered with steaming welts, but he still held on.

"Sister Eva! . Show him your cross!"
Sister Eva leaned out, shook her fist and said, "Get off our #%$@ car!"
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      *         |         *
      *         *         *
      *        /          *
              /
       *     /           *
        *               *
          *           *
              * * *

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Jesus walked into the town square where the people
were about to stone a woman for infidelity.

He stood before them and said,
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

The townspeople looked down, feeling ashamed.
Suddenly a stone was thrown from the back of the crowd
and struck the woman, knocking her down.

Jesus looked at the perpetrator, put His hands on His hips
and said, "That's not funny, Mom."

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