bananas

tony123 · 2007-12-18 06:49:14

Suppose a camel has to transport 3000 bananas to a market 1000km away. But the camel cannot carry more than 1000 bananas at any given time, and for each kilometer that it walks (or fraction thereof), it eats a banana (or the corresponding fraction of it). Find the maximal number of bananas that can reach the market.

mathsyperson · 2007-12-18 07:02:07

The highest I can get it is 533 1/3 bananas.

Edit:

TheDude · 2007-12-18 07:46:39

I got the same thing. I can't manage to come up with a way to prove it mathematically, but I feel like it has to be the answer.

mathsyperson · 2007-12-21 01:02:58

I started thinking about this more, and it seems like 3000 is the most efficient amount of bananas.

ie. We've shown that given 3000 bananas, it's possible to take 533 1/3 of them to the market, which means an ~18% efficiency rate.

If my calculations are right, 2000 and 4000 bananas both have efficiencies of around 16%.

Can anyone find a better amount?

Devantè · 2007-12-24 05:37:13

What if you coated the bananas in a really bad-smelling, bad-tasting substance?

Also, 533 1/3 seems pretty logical.

mathsyperson · 2007-12-24 06:26:19

Presumably, the problem isn't that the camel finds its way into your bag and starts eating your stock, it's that it requires sustenance for the trip. Doing that would eventually stop the camel from being able to carry the load and strand you in the desert.

Also, the market wouldn't want to buy your icky bananas.

Also, it's a hypothetical problem where common sense takes low priority.

Devantè · 2007-12-24 19:52:39

You could give it something else to eat.

But then you would have to think about the size and BMI of the camel, its age and food likes and dislikes.

What if it didn't like bananas? It could carry other nourishment with it.

Using the above point, I get around 2900 bananas. The human would eat 20 bananas per 200km.

mathsyperson · 2007-12-25 04:12:38

But if the camel is carrying its own food, then it wouldn't be able to carry the bananas.
Not even on Tuesdays.

Devantè · 2007-12-25 05:07:42

I think you're forgetting that carrying 3000 bananas wouldn't exactly be easy, as well.

Further research indicates that the answer is 533 1/3. If my source is reliable enough and correct.

Now, let us try and see other perspectives, not mathematical.

Wouldn't the camel need water? Fluid?

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2007-12-18 06:49:14

bananas

#2 2007-12-18 07:02:07

Re: bananas

#3 2007-12-18 07:46:39

Re: bananas

#4 2007-12-21 01:02:58

Re: bananas

#5 2007-12-24 05:37:13

Re: bananas

#6 2007-12-24 06:26:19

Re: bananas

#7 2007-12-24 19:52:39

Re: bananas

#8 2007-12-25 04:12:38

Re: bananas

#9 2007-12-25 05:07:42

Re: bananas

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