Question

I AM ONCE AGAIN ASKING FOR AN ANSWER TO THIS INCREDIBLY HARD RIDDLE!

Adam, Bob, Clair and Dave are out walking: They come to rickety old wooden bridge. The bridge is weak and only able to carry the weight of two of them at a time. Because they are in a rush and the light is fading they must cross in the minimum time possible and must carry a torch (flashlight,) on each crossing.

They only have one torch and it can't be thrown. Because of their different fitness levels and some minor injuries they can all cross at different speeds. Adam can cross in 1 minute, Bob in 2 minutes, Clair in 5 minutes and Dave in 10 minutes.

Adam, the brains of the group thinks for a moment and declares that the crossing can be completed in 17 minutes. There is no trick. How is this done?

Answer 1

To make it simple each character's name will be changed to their time respectively.

The moves are as follows:

1 & 2 Cross with Torch = 2
1 Returns with torch = 1
5 & 10 Cross with torch = 10
2 Returns with torch = 2
1 & 2 Cross with torch = 2

Answer 2

adam and bob cross with torch. adam comes back with torch. clair and dave cross with torch. then have bob go back with torch and return with adam and the torch