Building a Bridge Across a Chasm - March 20-24: "Hey Michael!" yelled Bill. "Over here!" Michael made his way across the pizza parlour and sat down. "Saw this western last night. This guy and girl were trying to get back home to Rockville after being kidnapped by some gang and then set free miles from home. I think it was called 'Stand' or something like that." "Any good action scenes?" asked Bill. "Well, it was kinda slow. But there was this one part where they had to find the river, and figure out how to get across. They needed to make a bridge across this chasm, and needed to figure out long to make it. Would you believe they used geometry? They didn't really say as much out loud or anything, but they did. Wanna see the problem?" "Sure," asked Bill. "Sounds a lot more exciting than what I did last night." "Okay. So they're standing on the edge of this chasm. It isn't really that far across, but they need to find a log or tie together enough rope to reach a tree on the other side. So they mark a spot on the edge of the chasm directly across from the tree. Then they walk 20 paces along the chasm, and she stays there. He walks another 20 paces and marks the spot. Then he turns ninety degrees and walks away from the chasm until she's directly in the line of sight between him and the tree on the other side. Then he claims that the distance he just walked from the edge of the chasm is the same as the distance across the chasm. So they string together a log and some ropes on that line, then chuck it across, get it stuck in the tree, climb across, and get home. And that was the high point of the movie." "Wow. Slow movie. How did that measuring thing he did work?" "I was hoping you'd help me figure it out. My little sister was asking me what they were doing, and I want to explain it to her." Correct solutions to the problem were submitted by: Jessica Muniz, Fairfield HS Julie Black, Fairfield HS Samantha Brenner, Fairfield HS Similar solutions were submitted by the following students at Fairfield HS: Jennifer Abrahamsen, Eric Robert, Nicole Bleuer, Kevin Russo Caitlin Dorsey, David Gluckman, Debbie Lacy, Betsy McCormick Cecilia Merediz, Arpan Munier, Adam Reckert, Kelly Rogers, Pete Shanazu Jamie Silvestro, and Brad Warner 2nd period Geometry Class, Ridgeview High School 1st period Geometry Class, Ridgeview High School 7th period Geometry Class, Ridgeview High School Adam D. Shapiro, Akiba Hebrew Academy Eli Segal, Akiba Hebrew Academy Katie Kaminski & Janine Peterson, Harpeth Hall School Aron Freidenreich, Akiba Hebrew Academy Avi Klein, Akiba Hebrew Academy Eric Wahl, Masterman High School David Love, Akiba Hebrew Academy Ryan M. Howley, State College High School Daniel A. Gabriel, Akiba Hebrew Academy Marc Romanoff, Akiba Hebrew Academy Christina Hughes & Teri Hreha, Steel Valley HS Beth Skwarecki, Steel Valley High School Ashley Hall, Kristin Biermann, Bridget Coyle, Mt. St. Joseph Academy Jordan Walsh & Kate Devine, Mt. St. Joseph's Academy Shaun Rancatore Next problem || Previous problem || Table of Contents || Forum Home Page