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From: chuck@dartvax.UUCP (Chuck Simmons)
Newsgroups: net.puzzle
Subject: Re: *** The infamous PIRATE PROBLEM ***
Message-ID: <3771@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Oct-85 01:32:08 EST
Article-I.D.: dartvax.3771
Posted: Wed Oct 30 01:32:08 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Nov-85 03:12:22 EST
References: <3187@think.ARPA>
Distribution: net
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 24

> A group of pirates in a ship land on an island (shape is irrelavent;
> anything will work) with intent to bury their recently aquired booty.
> They figure that they will use a method, instead of a map to bury their
> treasure. This island is completely barren, except for two odd, distinct
> landmarks: Devil's Rock, and the Dark Forest. One man holding some of
> the treasure walks in a straight line to Devil's Rock, noting the distance
> that he walks. Another man holding the rest of the treasure walks to the
> Dark Forest, he also noting the distance that he walks. When each man
> reaches his landmark, they each turn 90 degrees and proceed away from their
> landmark the same distance that they each walked from the boat. When they
> reach these new positions, they decide that they will bury the treasure
> on the midpoint of the line segment that their positions now represent.

I love poorly defined puzzles.  No matter where the pirates land on the
island, there are about 4 places where they may end up burying the
treasure.  The first pirate can turn either 90 degrees to the left or
right as can the second pirate.

The shape of the island is not completely irrevelent in the context of
the story unless the pirates can walk on water.

Would you care to clarify?

chuck@dartvax