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July 11, 2010

Crossing the river



Two boys want to cross a river. The only way to get to the other
side is by boat, but that boat can only take one boy at a time.
The boat cannot return on its own, there are no ropes or similar
tricks, yet both boys manage to cross the river using the boat.

How they manage to cross?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

The first boy crosses the river in the boat, then comes back.

The second boy crosses the river in the boat, then comes back.

While they are both back where they started, they have both "crossed the river." Twice, even.

Anonymous said...

The first boy crosses the river in the boat, then comes back.

The second boy crosses the river in the boat, then comes back.

While they are both back where they started, they have both "crossed the river." Twice, even.

Anonymous said...

You never said which side they were on, so one boy (boy A) crossed. When he got to the other side he greeted the other boy (boy B) and helped the boy B into the boat. Boy B used the boat to get to the other side. The boys waved to each other across the water, smiling because both had successfully crossed the river using the boat.

Garret said...

hmmmm....

both reasoning is very true. I don't want to repeat the first two but that was what I was thinking.

~Garret
math games for the classroom

Unknown said...

THE FIRST BOY CROSSES THE RIVER AND SENDS UNKNOWN BOY TO THE OTHER END THE BOY WAITING CROSSES THE RIVER AND JOINS THE FIRST BOY.

shooterboss said...

Both boys are on opposite sides of the river. One rides the boat across, meeting the other boy on the other side. The "other boy" gets into the boat and rides back. Thus, they both have crossed the river.

aforgrave said...

One boy gets into the boat, bidding his friend "good-bye, 'till we soon meet again." He then paddles across to the other side.

On the other side, he disembarks, and turns the boat over to The Girl, who paddles it back to the first boy's friend. She disembarks, and the second boy then boards the boat, and then paddles over to meet his friend.

Anonymous said...

first boy crosses the riverand sends the boat empty.as the river flows downstream the boat will reach the oder end but it takes time.hence the second boy also reaches the other bank

Anonymous said...

both boys are in opposite direction so one crosses the river and give boat to other one so the other boy crosses from existing side to opp side......by this both can able to cross...since they have not mentioned in which side both are from

Unknown said...

Are the two boys on the same side ??

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Jeff K said...

I agree, Either they are on opposite sides or they each go over and come back, one at a time.

Randy E. said...

If the only restriction is that they both have to 'use the boat' then I think one boy rows...the other boy 'tows' behind the boat holding on. They both use the boat with one trip. ???

Thomas said...

The second boy sits on the shoulders of the first boy as the first boy sits in the boat.
Half way across the river, the boat sinks and both boys drown.

Still trapped within the boundaries of the boat, the boat and both boys' bodies float to the other side.
:D

boomi.dayanand said...

does both the guys were at same side of the river