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Re: Fly problem, alternative solution?
Posted:
Feb 8, 1997 2:29 PM
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>
> If you notice the whole thing lasts 2 hours, you see at once the
> answer is 150 miles.
> But you might instead work out that the first leg of the fly's
> trip lasts 1.6 hours and is 120 miles long; the second leg is 1/5 as
> long, 24 miles; the third, likewise, is 4.8 miles; and so on. You sum
> the infinite series (a geometric one)... and get 150 miles, the hard way.
Yes, it is rather simple:
s1*SUM(C^n,n=1,oo) where C = V1/V2 (If you have one train as a refernece point)
>
> The story goes, someone gave this to von Neumann and the latter gave
> the answer in a few seconds.
> -- "Ah, of course you saw the quick method... You know, some people
> try to sum the infinite series..."
> -- "What do you mean?... I _did_ sum the infinite series..."
>
>
I've heard that one before.
//Luka
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