- Please post all answers in Spoilerboxes. Googling the riddle does not make you cool.
We have a bookshelf. On this bookshelf is four volumes of an encyclopedia.
For simplicity's sake, we will say that each cover of each book is .25 inches. Each chunk of pages within each book is 1 inch.
We also have a bookworm. This bookworm chews his way from the first page of the first book, to the last page of the last book.
How far did the bookworm travel?
Hints:
Bookworms can eat books.
The answer is not over 9000.
The answer is not 42.
Geniuses:
Quaraezha
Lybydose
forum
I have a riddle.
posted
Total Posts
30
Topic Starter
Topic Starter
Yes, you did 
My teacher said 5 students out of the 850 teaches got this right, if that helps eliminate some answers.
My teacher said 5 students out of the 850 teaches got this right, if that helps eliminate some answers.
Topic Starter
Explain answers in spoilers pls.
Though if you've gotten the right answer, I'm pretty sure your logic is correct.
Q and Lyby have gotten it right ^_^ Make a guess before spoiling if you'd like. Or just wasteland ^______^
Though if you've gotten the right answer, I'm pretty sure your logic is correct.
Q and Lyby have gotten it right ^_^ Make a guess before spoiling if you'd like. Or just wasteland ^______^
SPOILER
3.5 Inches
Reasoning being that when books are placed on a shelf like that, the first page of the book is on the right side, and the last page of the book is on the left side. each line in the drawing between the books is .5 inches as there are 2 covers touching. so 3 lines = 6 covers = 1.5inches. Then 2 full books between the first and last volume are each one inch. 1 + 1 + 1.5 = 3.5.
Reasoning being that when books are placed on a shelf like that, the first page of the book is on the right side, and the last page of the book is on the left side. each line in the drawing between the books is .5 inches as there are 2 covers touching. so 3 lines = 6 covers = 1.5inches. Then 2 full books between the first and last volume are each one inch. 1 + 1 + 1.5 = 3.5.
(but this sentence of course)errrr...this...is this some kind of trapping riddle XD?....okay my guess is...
( - =Cover)
- =0.25
I =1
- =0.25
II =1
- =0.25
III =1
- =0.25
IV =1
- =0.25
total is ....5.25 inches...........but....... This bookworm chews his way from the first page(oh well....you put it horizontally).. of the first book, to the last page of the last book.
- =0.25
I =1 (bookworm starts here.. lol)
- =0.25
II =1
- =0.25
III =1
- =0.25
IV =1 (bookworm ends here)
- =0.25
so.........
- =0.25
I =1
- =0.25
II =1
- =0.25
III =1
- =0.25
IV =1
- =0.25
2.75! yay im genius XD
- =0.25
I =1
- =0.25
II =1
- =0.25
III =1
- =0.25
IV =1
- =0.25
total is ....5.25 inches...........but....... This bookworm chews his way from the first page(oh well....you put it horizontally).. of the first book, to the last page of the last book.
I =1 (bookworm starts here.. lol)
- =0.25
II =1
- =0.25
III =1
- =0.25
IV =1 (bookworm ends here)
so.........
- =0.25
II =1
- =0.25
III =1
- =0.25
2.75! yay im genius XD
SPOILER
Problem with your riddle:
"First page" and "Last page" can have two separate distinctions. Either "Page 1 and Page n" or "the first page encountered and the last page encountered." It would be much less ambiguous if you mentioned how many pages are in each book (this won't effect their width) and then said, "This bookworm chews his way from page 1 of chapter I, to page n of chapter IV."
Of course the above action removes most of the fog around what the question is actually asking, which most riddles basically rely on. That is, questions which have multiple answers that can be given, but only one answer that is accepted for reasons which are biased towards what the riddler wants the answer to be.
You should also mention that the bookworm travels in a straight line, I guess. Although that's kind of assumed. Easily fixed by asking what the shortest distance is that the bookworm must travel.
"First page" and "Last page" can have two separate distinctions. Either "Page 1 and Page n" or "the first page encountered and the last page encountered." It would be much less ambiguous if you mentioned how many pages are in each book (this won't effect their width) and then said, "This bookworm chews his way from page 1 of chapter I, to page n of chapter IV."
Of course the above action removes most of the fog around what the question is actually asking, which most riddles basically rely on. That is, questions which have multiple answers that can be given, but only one answer that is accepted for reasons which are biased towards what the riddler wants the answer to be.
You should also mention that the bookworm travels in a straight line, I guess. Although that's kind of assumed. Easily fixed by asking what the shortest distance is that the bookworm must travel.
Also,
3.5 inches.
Tasks that can have their input data interpreted in more than one way are silly.
But are sadly common.
MASSIVE PLOT TWIST
4.5 inches. The first book is standing upside down.
no rolled get out
get outt
you're becoming animask and i swear to god i will lynch you day one
STEAM AND ASH, THIS BE YOUR RESTING PLACE, YOU OF CHEATING TONGUE
get outt
you're becoming animask and i swear to god i will lynch you day one
STEAM AND ASH, THIS BE YOUR RESTING PLACE, YOU OF CHEATING TONGUE
Wojjan, I need more hair flip, tia
This makes me wanna go and play Professor Layton.
I guess after knowing the correct answer I can see which way the logic went...
SPOILER
The minimum case would be 5.5in because he didn't chew the covers on the outside. If the worm took a less-than-perfect path, it could be any number higher than that. We also have to assume that the first of first and last of last pages are included, or that the width of a single page is much smaller than the width of the book.
Dist = 4*pages + 3*startcovers + 3*endcovers
= 4*1 + 3*0.25 + 3*0.25
= 5.5
This also assumes there isn't any nonsense you didn't mention, such as one of the books being picked up with the worm inside and being carried across the country, or there being gaps between some of the books, or the worm exiting and going back in at a different point.
Dist = 4*pages + 3*startcovers + 3*endcovers
= 4*1 + 3*0.25 + 3*0.25
= 5.5
This also assumes there isn't any nonsense you didn't mention, such as one of the books being picked up with the worm inside and being carried across the country, or there being gaps between some of the books, or the worm exiting and going back in at a different point.
Edit: Page order wasn't mentioned in your problem either.
SPOILER
That depends on how the books are oriented.
If the first page of the first book is at the far left side, and the last page of the last book is on the far right dies, then it would be 5.5 in.
If the first page of the first book is facing rightwards, and the last page of the last book is facing leftwards, then it would be only 3.5 in.
It could also be 4.5 inches if either one of the books' first and/or last pages are at the far side and/or the closer side.
If the first page of the first book is at the far left side, and the last page of the last book is on the far right dies, then it would be 5.5 in.
If the first page of the first book is facing rightwards, and the last page of the last book is facing leftwards, then it would be only 3.5 in.
It could also be 4.5 inches if either one of the books' first and/or last pages are at the far side and/or the closer side.
I lol'dLoginer wrote:
MASSIVE PLOT TWIST4.5 inches. The first book is standing upside down.
