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From: james@ur-laser.uucp (James Chavin)
Newsgroups: net.math
Subject: an eggsacting problem(a solution)
Message-ID: <247@ur-laser.uucp>
Date: Mon, 27-Aug-84 14:22:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: ur-laser.247
Posted: Mon Aug 27 14:22:46 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 29-Aug-84 00:59:58 EDT
Organization: Lab for Laser Energetics, Univ. of Rochester
Lines: 33



       I am posting the solution to the hens amd the eggs.  The posted solution
is one I received from Chris Stassen.  I know that a lot of people claim that
a half a hen can't lay half an egg, but you must remember that it is only a rate
If you don't believe me, try chopping a hen in half and see how long it takes
to lay half an egg.  Thanks to all the people who sent me answers.

                                      James Chavin


> If a hen-and-a-half can lay an egg-and-a-half in an hour-and-a-half,
> how long does it take two hens to lay three eggs?

	Assuming that any hen can always lay the same number of eggs in
a given time period, then:

	(1) [Assumption] 	(eggs)/(hens)(time) is constant.

	(2) [Given]		1.5 eggs, 1.5 hens, and 1.5 hours.

	(3) [(1) & (2)]		For any hens (H), eggs (E) and time (T),
				E/HT is always the same number.  Since
				we have one E, H, and T, we know that
				every E/HT = (1.5)/(1.5)(1.5) = 2/3.

	(4) [Given]		2 hens, 3 eggs, unknown time.

	(5) [(3) & (4)]		E/HT = 2/3  --> (3)/(2)T = 2/3

				--> T = 9/4 = 2.25 hours.
				
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