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From: trb@masscomp.UUCP (Andy Tannenbaum)
Newsgroups: net.jokes,net.puzzle
Subject: Re: Manhole covers (interview question) circular reasoning
Message-ID: <661@masscomp.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Apr-85 17:25:27 EST
Article-I.D.: masscomp.661
Posted: Mon Apr  8 17:25:27 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Apr-85 02:38:02 EST
References: <462@nbs-amrf.UUCP> <7074@watdaisy.UUCP> <474@nbs-amrf.UUCP> <237@vaxwaller.UUCP> <1196@reed.UUCP> <9666@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Reply-To: trb@masscomp.UUCP (Andy Tannenbaum)
Organization: Masscomp - Westford, MA
Lines: 21
Xref: watmath net.jokes:11692 net.puzzle:681
Summary: 

In an innumerable number of articles, many netters write:

(I paraphrase)
> Manhole covers are round because if they were square, they would
> fall into the manholes (assuming a minimal bevel).

People have said that the covers would have to be round, or at least
many-sided, approaching round, or of some goofy equidiametric
non-circular shape or something.  I don't quite follow it all.

It seems to me that an equilateral triangle cover would serve just as
well as a circle, when it comes to keeping the lid from falling in.
Of course, there's still the rolling problem, but my point is that
there seem to be scads of people posting to the net saying that a
circle-like shape is the only choice because of the "falling in
problem" and that they're apparently not right.

	Mr Telephone Man, there's something wrong with my line
	when I alloc(my baby's number) I get a click every time.

	Andy Tannenbaum   Masscomp  Westford, MA   (617) 692-6200 x274