217,338 views
43 votes
43 votes
This 'burning rope ' problent is a cleric logic pozzle. you have two ropes that each take an hour to burn, but burn at inconsistent rates. How can you meagre +5 miata? (you can light one or both rope at one or both ends at the same time.)​

User Joan Esteban
by
3.0k points

1 Answer

21 votes
21 votes

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

e're back with another riddle, and this week's is nice and short, though figuring out the solution can be a bedeviling pursuit.

Problem

You have two ropes coated in an oil to help them burn. Each rope will take exactly 1 hour to burn all the way through. However, the ropes do not burn at constant rates—there are spots where they burn a little faster and spots where they burn a little slower, but it always takes 1 hour to finish the job.

With a lighter to ignite the ropes, how can you measure exactly 45 minutes?

MORE FROM POPULAR MECHANICS

Why Some People Only Need 4 Hours of Sleep

Hint

You can light multiple ends and/or multiple ropes at the exact same time.

Solution

Think about clever ways to light these ropes on fire for a little bit, then see the solution here.

User Friendly King
by
2.7k points