Apr 02, 2024
Time for the latest puzzler. This one is more for children. But adults can certainly take part, if they like.
Here we go.
Imagine two telephone poles, each one is 50 feet tall.
There is a chain that connects from the top of one telephone pole to the top of the other telephone pole. This piece of chain is 100 feet long.
So, a rope or chain that hanges between two points forms a mathematical curve, known as a catenary, which comes from a Latin word catena or catenaria, which means 'chain.'
The question very simply is, what must be the distance between these two telephone poles so that the lowest point of the chain just touches the ground?
Good luck everyone.
Time for the answer to this puzzler.
So, two 50 foot telephone poles, and a chain 100 feet long. What must be the distance between these two telephone poles so that the lowest point of the chain just touches the ground?
This one was a trick question!
We were tricky with this one. Talking about the catenary was a distraction.
So because the two poles are 50 feet high, and the chain itself is 100 feet long, there can be no distance at all between the poles. They would have to be touching, because 50 plus 50 equals 100.
Tricked ya!
