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From: overlord@nmtvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.puzzle,net.math
Subject: Bizzare Polar Bear Answer
Message-ID: <875@nmtvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 19-Nov-85 15:38:37 EST
Article-I.D.: nmtvax.875
Posted: Tue Nov 19 15:38:37 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Nov-85 00:03:59 EST
Reply-To: overlord@nmtvax.UUCP (Alan Kerr)
Distribution: net
Organization: New Mexico Tech, Socorro
Lines: 35
Xref: watmath net.puzzle:1182 net.math:2548


> The old Polar Bear Problem:
> 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

One answer that I have thought of that hasn't been posted yet is:

     any point a circle of radius 1 mile from the south pole.

     start there, walk one mile south (you are now at the south pole)
     walk 1 mile west (UNDEFINED!! there is no west, or you walk an
     infinately many times around a circle of radius zero) then walk
     one mile north to the original spot.

or using the 1 mile south plus 1 mile/n (integral number of revolutions)
and then 1 mile north method, assume that n is infinate therefore the
radius is zero.

      Stretch it to the limit!!!
         but, but?  the limit goes to infinity!!!
             SOOOO? this is math, not reality.

                                      Alan Kerr
                                      Chemistry/Computer Science/Math major
                                      New Mexico Tech

-- 
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