I got this done in 2 min its easy really First person done wins. no looking up answers.
The Microsoft Challenge"
Allegedly, this is one of the questions for potential Microsoft employees. One guy reportedly solved it by writing a C program, and although it took him 37 minutes to develop the program, it did compile and run on the first try. Another guy solved the problem in 3 minutes. A group of 50 Motorola employees couldn't figure it out at all. The story line has been modified with a Christmas theme, but the problem remains the same. See how long it takes you...
Four elves have a meeting that starts in 17 minutes and they must allcross a bridge to get there. All four elves begin on the same side of the bridge. You must help them across to the other side. It is night. There is one flashlight. A maximum of two elves can cross at a time. Any party who crosses, either 1 or 2 elves, must have the flashlight with them. The flashlight must be walked back and forth; in other words, it cannot bethrown, etc.
Each elf walks at a different speed. A pair must walk at the rate of the slower elf's pace.
Speedy - 1 minute to cross the bridge.
Happy - 2 minutes to cross the bridge.
Smarty - 5 minutes to cross the bridge.
Lazy - 10 minutes to cross the bridge.
For example, if Smarty and Lazy walk across first, 10 minutes have elapsed when they get to the other side of the bridge. If Lazy then returns with the flashlight, a total of 20 minutes have elapsed and you have failed the mission.
Note: There is no "trick" to this problem; it is simply a matter of the appropriate allocation of available resources. There are two known solutions to this problem . This is based on a question Microsoft gives to all prospective employees...Microsoft expects applicants to solve this problem in less than 5 minutes.
The Microsoft Challenge"
Allegedly, this is one of the questions for potential Microsoft employees. One guy reportedly solved it by writing a C program, and although it took him 37 minutes to develop the program, it did compile and run on the first try. Another guy solved the problem in 3 minutes. A group of 50 Motorola employees couldn't figure it out at all. The story line has been modified with a Christmas theme, but the problem remains the same. See how long it takes you...
Four elves have a meeting that starts in 17 minutes and they must allcross a bridge to get there. All four elves begin on the same side of the bridge. You must help them across to the other side. It is night. There is one flashlight. A maximum of two elves can cross at a time. Any party who crosses, either 1 or 2 elves, must have the flashlight with them. The flashlight must be walked back and forth; in other words, it cannot bethrown, etc.
Each elf walks at a different speed. A pair must walk at the rate of the slower elf's pace.
Speedy - 1 minute to cross the bridge.
Happy - 2 minutes to cross the bridge.
Smarty - 5 minutes to cross the bridge.
Lazy - 10 minutes to cross the bridge.
For example, if Smarty and Lazy walk across first, 10 minutes have elapsed when they get to the other side of the bridge. If Lazy then returns with the flashlight, a total of 20 minutes have elapsed and you have failed the mission.
Note: There is no "trick" to this problem; it is simply a matter of the appropriate allocation of available resources. There are two known solutions to this problem . This is based on a question Microsoft gives to all prospective employees...Microsoft expects applicants to solve this problem in less than 5 minutes.
