Math help (brain teaser)

[Happydude]

ok...it's like this:



Ten people are sitting on a boat. One seat in the center of the boat is empty. The five people in the front of the boat want to change seats and fish in the back of the boat and the five people in the back of the boat want to fish from the front of the boat. A person may move to the next seat if it is empty, or may step over one person to get to an empty seat without capsizing the boat.

How many moves are required to switch the five pairs of people? ( I got 59)

How many moves would be required to switch 20 pairs of people? Provide as many solutions as you can come up with. Explain each solution.






well...thats my problem, i figured out the 5 pairs of people, but im not going to do the 20 pairs, our teacher said there should be a formula, can anyone help?

ohh...and i need this by the end of today

















PS: win Dblns

[Bond]

I've done something like this before... it's a specific pattern that has to be followed over and over again. Although I am much too lazy to find out how many times the persons have to move.

[Andromida_]

Usually in a math situation I would love to help you but I can't stand word problems... sorry

If I get bored later I'll look at it more closely

[Happydude]

thx Andromida...





errr...i need someone thats in grade 11 or higher

*thinks*

damn...i won't be done today

[Mushlafa]

297.... yep.... thats how many moves for the 20 people. I wont tell you how i figured it out tho

[Happydude]

lol Mush...

accually, i figured it out allready, it's 1010 moves for the 20 pairs...and the good thing about this is, i get to keep my Dblns!!!


so, thx to everyone who tried:

Jeepnut
Jeepnut's Slave

and...ME!


bye now...