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From: bs@faron.UUCP (Robert D. Silverman)
Newsgroups: net.puzzle,net.math
Subject: Re: Polar Bear Problem Sequel
Message-ID: <367@faron.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 19-Oct-85 14:40:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: faron.367
Posted: Sat Oct 19 14:40:23 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 20-Oct-85 08:20:13 EDT
References: <361@proper.UUCP>
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Organization: The MITRE Coporation, Bedford, MA
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Xref: linus net.puzzle:964 net.math:2025

> The old Polar Bear Problem:  You go somewhere, set up a tent, walk a mile
> south, walk a mile due west, shoot a bear.  Then you drag the bear a mile north
> to your tent & have him for dinner.  What color is the bear?
> 
> The sequel:  (1) From how many points on Earth (assuming it's spherical, etc.)
> 		 can you make exactly these moves, i.e., walk 1 mile south, 1
> 		 mile west, 1 mile north, and be back where you started?
> 
>              (2) Describe all of them.
> 
> Judith Abrahms
> {ucbvax,ihnp4}!dual!proper!judith

The problem is trivial. There are an infinite number of such points lying
on an infinite number of concentric circles centered on the south pole.
The point is that you can walk N times around a circle whose radius is
1/(2 PI N) and still walk only 1 mile. Walking due west keeps you on the
circle.

Bob Silverman  (they call me Mr. 9)