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From: ags@pucc-h (Dave Seaman)
Newsgroups: net.puzzle
Subject: Re: Monkey Puzzle
Message-ID: <2490@pucc-h>
Date: Sat, 30-Nov-85 11:00:42 EST
Article-I.D.: pucc-h.2490
Posted: Sat Nov 30 11:00:42 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 1-Dec-85 03:36:16 EST
References: <53@nbs-amrf.UUCP> <149@bsdpkh.UUCP> <2484@pucc-h> <724@lasspvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: ags@pucc-h.UUCP (Dave Seaman)
Distribution: net
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Lines: 22

>>>> A rope over the top of a fence has the same length on each side.
>>>> Weighs 1/3 lb. per ft.  On one end hangs a monkey holding a banana
>>>	.
>>>	.
>>>	.
>>>> How long is the banana?
>
>No, you're all wrong. This is a physics problem. The rope has the
>same length on each side; the weight on one side weighs the same as
>the monkey on the other; the top of the fence is frictionless; the
			  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>system is in equilibrium; therefore the banana is massless, or the
>system would not balance. The length of the banana is zero. I don't
>know if this is consistent with the rest of the problem as stated.
>I didn't try to work it out.

You must have read a different monkey problem than I read.  No such
assumption was stated.  Furthermore, if this assumption were added,
the problem would be self-contradictory.  I stand by my answer of
5.75 inches.
-- 
Dave Seaman	  {decvax|harpo|ihnp4|inuxc|seismo|ucbvax}!pur-ee!pucc-h!ags