Solution to Problem 262

Solution to Problem 262

Correct solutions came from Rafael Stern, USA; Allen Druze, USA; Philippe Fondanaiche, France; Brett Hendricks, USA; Al Zimmermann, USA; Rocky, USA; Bill Webb, USA; Aaron Kahn; Nathan Faber, USA; Ron Welch, USA; Gary Smith, USA; Kurt Bachtold, USA; Dan Dima, Romania; Thiry Yves, France; Lou Cairoli, USA; K Sengupta, India.

Light both ends of one wick and one end of the second wick. A half-hour later, the first wick will have been consumed. At that moment, light the other end of the second, still-burning, wick. A quarter-hour later this second wick will also be consumed. Forty-five minutes will have elapsed since the first wicks were lit.

My favorite solution suggested lighting one of the wicks and looking at your watch.

This question was posed (and answered) by Farid Lian: Is it possible to determine when fifteen minutes have elapsed using only one wick?

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