SOLUTION: For a potato race, a straight line is marked on the ground from a point A, and points B, C, D, ... are marked on the line so that AB=BC=CD=..=2m. A potato is placed at points B, C,

Question 1146197: For a potato race, a straight line is marked on the ground from a point A, and points B, C, D, ... are marked on the line so that AB=BC=CD=..=2m. A potato is placed at points B, C, D,...
A runner has to start from A and bring each potato back by a separate journey back to a basket at A. Find the number of potatoes so that the total distance run during the race will be 480m.
Answer by greenestamps(13200) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Not clear!!

(1) If a potato (meaning ONE of them) is placed at each of B, C, and D, then the race is over (all the potatoes have been retrieved) after one trip from A to B and back, one trip from A to C and back, and one trip from A to D and back. That's a total of 4+8+12 = 24m -- nowhere close to 480m.

(2) If multiple potatoes are placed at each of B, C, and D, with possibly different numbers of potatoes at each, then there are numerous ways to make the total distance 480m.

(3) If EQUAL NUMBERS of potatoes are placed at each of B, C, and D, then the discussion in (1) above tells us there need to be 480/24 = 20 potatoes at each place, making a total of 60 potatoes.
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