This week's brain teaser in known as The Burning Rope.
You are given 2 pieces of rope; each piece of rope burns from one end to the other in 30 minutes (no matter which end is lit). If different pieces touch, the flame will transfer from one to the other. You cannot assume any rope properties that were not stated.
Problem:
Using only 1 match to start the fire, can you measure 45 minutes?
Answer:
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Take one rope (Lets call this Rope A) and place it down as a circle. Light match and start burning rope A at the tips that are touching. After the rope (Rope A) completely burns out, 15 minutes will have passed (since both ends are burning and being consumed at once). Grab the second rope (Rope B) straight and place one end so that it will immediately light up when the two burning points from Rope A finally touch and are just about to burn out. The 15 minutes on Rope A plus 30 minutes on Rope B gives you 45 minutes.
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Einstein's Riddle
Posted September 06, 2019