Can you solve the jail break riddle? - Dan Finkel | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Using fuses and a lighter, inmates must time exactly 45 seconds to break out of jail before the electric fence reactivates.

Key Insights

• 🌱 Timing is crucial in the inmates' plan to break out of jail.
• 😕 The fuses provided are uniform in length but burn unevenly.
• 🙂 Lighting both ends of a fuse cuts its burning time in half.
• ⌛ By deducting one fuse's burning time from 30 seconds, the inmates can measure the remaining time.
• 🙂 The inmates can shorten the second fuse by lighting one end while simultaneously lighting the first.
• ⌛ The inmates successfully time exactly 45 seconds and escape over the electric fence.
• 🍰 The electric fence circuit automatically restarts after a short pause.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How can the inmates time exactly 45 seconds without a working watch?

The inmates can use two fuses to time 45 seconds. By lighting both ends of one fuse to burn in 30 seconds and using the second fuse to time the remaining 15 seconds, they can achieve the desired timing.

Q: What happens if the inmates make a mistake in counting the seconds?

If the inmates make a mistake in counting the seconds, they risk getting electrocuted by the reactivated electric fence. Precise timing is crucial for their successful escape.

Q: Can the inmates adjust the burning speed of the fuses?

No, the burning speed of the fuses is not adjustable. They burn for exactly 60 seconds when ignited from one end.

Q: How does lighting both ends of a fuse affect the burning time?

Lighting both ends of a fuse cuts its burning time in half. For example, if a fuse takes 60 seconds to burn from one end to the other, it will burn out in 30 seconds if lit from both ends simultaneously.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Inmates must break out of jail by timing exactly 45 seconds to pass the electric fence.

• Their watch is broken, but they have a lighter and two fuses.

• By lighting both ends of one fuse and timing it to burn out in 30 seconds, they can then use the second fuse to measure the remaining 15 seconds.