document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=730245>Question 730245</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> In a lake, there is a patch of lily pads. Every day the patch doubles in size. If it takes 48 days for the patch to cover the entire lake, how long would it take for the patch to cover half of the lake?  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #853052 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ikleyn><B>ikleyn(53427)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ikleyn><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=ikleyn><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=853052\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> .<BR>\n" );
document.write( "In a lake, there is a patch of lily pads. Every day the patch doubles in size. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "If it takes 48 days for the patch to cover the entire lake, how long would it take <BR>\n" );
document.write( "for the patch to cover half of the lake?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "It is a classic puzzle for those who start learning exponential functions.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The correct answer is 47 days.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The solution to this puzzle is extremely short:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If the patch covers the entire lake in 48 days, it means that \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;half of the lake is covered in the previous, 47-th day.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "What is interesting: the correct answer and this short solution often shock the beginners.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "But don't be discouraged  -  this is a normal reaction for a beginner.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "That's why you're learning from experts to understand non-obvious truths.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The answer \"24\" in the post by @lynnlo is incorrect.\r<BR>\n" );
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