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#14464 - Tue Jan 16 2001 02:22 PM U2 microsoft riddle...i need the answer please!!
tatoofish Offline
Learning the ropes...

Registered: Tue Jan 16 2001
Posts: 2
Loc: i wipe my own ass
please answer this if you can!!!

This is the actual test given by Microsoft prospective employees. I am deadly serious that this is solvable and without tricks:

"U2" have a concert that starts in 17 minutes and they must all cross a bridge to get there. All four men begin on the same side of the bridge. You must help them across to the other side. It is night. There is one flash light. A maximum of two people can cross at one time. Any party who crosses, either 1 or 2 people, must have the flash light with them. The flashlight must be walked back and forth, it cannot be thrown, etc. Each band member walks at a different speed. A pair must walk together
at the rate of the slower man's pace:

Bono - 1 minute to cross
Edge - 2 minute to cross
Adam - 5 minute to cross
Larry - 10 minute to cross

For example: If Bono and Larry walk across first, 10 minutes have elapsed when they get to the other side of the bridge. If Larry then returns with the flashlight, a total of 20 minutes have passed and you have failed the mission.
Note: There is no trick behind this. It is the simple movement of resources in the appropriate order. There are two known answers to this problem. This is based on a question Microsoft gives to all prospective employees. Note: Microsoft expects you to answer this question in under 5 minutes.

Answer is 17 minutes. Try working this out.


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#14465 - Tue Jan 16 2001 02:52 PM Re: U2 microsoft riddle...i need the answer please!!
val9000 Offline
Multiloquent

Registered: Wed Aug 30 2000
Posts: 2179
Loc: Louisville
Kentucky USA
SOLUTION: Bono and Edge go first (2 mins). Bono comes back with flashlight (3 mins). Adam and Larry goes over (13 mins). Edge walks back with the flashlight (15 mins) then Edge walks Bono over the bridge (17 mins).
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#14466 - Tue Jan 16 2001 03:30 PM Re: U2 microsoft riddle...i need the answer please!!
tatoofish Offline
Learning the ropes...

Registered: Tue Jan 16 2001
Posts: 2
Loc: i wipe my own ass
thank you so much this guy presented this to me and it has been bothering me ever since...i was so close but i couldn't finish it...thank you so much!!

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#14467 - Tue Jan 16 2001 03:41 PM Re: U2 microsoft riddle...i need the answer please!!
val9000 Offline
Multiloquent

Registered: Wed Aug 30 2000
Posts: 2179
Loc: Louisville
Kentucky USA
Not a problem at all... stumped me for a few minutes, untill I realized that you need the guys who move the slowest to do as little walking as possible... thus bono and the edge are stuck doing all the leg-work...
Oh the life of a rock star! LOL
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