Where Should You Place 8 Marks on a Blank 36 cm Ruler?

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SUMMARY

The optimal placement of 8 marks on a 36 cm ruler to measure all full centimeter values from 1 to 36 cm is at the following positions: 1 cm, 3 cm, 6 cm, 13 cm, 20 cm, 27 cm, 31 cm, and 35 cm. This configuration allows for the measurement of every integer centimeter without the need for copying or using the ruler multiple times. The solution was confirmed by user Hurkyl, who provided the correct marks after several guesses and discussions among participants.

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With a blank ruler (without marks) of exactly 36 cm you can only measure 36 cm. Now you are allowed to set 8 marks so that you can read off all full centimeter values from 1 to 36 cm directly from the ruler.

Where must these 8 marks be?
 
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At the beginning, and a centimeter apart each, is my guess.
 
Originally posted by Mentat
At the beginning, and a centimeter apart each, is my guess.

You can only have eight marks
 
You place the firts mark at 4 cm and then following 4 cm after. Therefore, you have a mark at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32.
 
0,5 cm
1,0 cm
3,0 cm
6,0 cm
10,0 cm
15,0 cm
21,0 cm
28,0 cm

just guessing [?]
 
No idea. Every 4.5 centimeters?


Also to point out about the last brain teaser, I would have said compressed gasses (as it seems recent planetary science has led to the idea that outter planets would not have enough rocky material that far out to form large rocky cores. Mainly from evidence from exosolar systems, but ultimately I suppose it is the accepted answer).
 
Originally posted by iansmith
You place the firts mark at 4 cm and then following 4 cm after. Therefore, you have a mark at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32.

How do you measure 3cm or 5cm then?
 
maybe it's time for another wild guess, how about:

1,0 cm
2,0 cm
3,0 cm
4,0 cm
5,0 cm
6,0 cm
7,0 cm
8,0 cm

together they add up to 36 cm
 
First at 18 in the middle
Then at 9
At 4.5
Divide that space in 3 so you have 1.5 and 3.0
And divide the 3.0 marking into 3 as well.
 
  • #10
*after you have the first centimetre then you can copy the 1 cm length over the ruler to measure everything
 
  • #11
Originally posted by cytokinesis
First at 18 in the middle
Then at 9
At 4.5
Divide that space in 3 so you have 1.5 and 3.0
And divide the 3.0 marking into 3 as well.

all full centimeter values from 1 to 36 cm directly from the ruler. how do you find 5cm?
after you have the first centimetre then you can copy the 1 cm length over the ruler to measure everything
Nah, that's cheating, you must be able to read all full centimeter values from 1 to 36 cm directly from the ruler. no copying or using the ruler twice.
 
  • #12
I will mark
1, 3, 6, 13, 20, 27, 31, and 35 centimeters on my ruler.
 
  • #13
Originally posted by Hurkyl
I will mark
1, 3, 6, 13, 20, 27, 31, and 35 centimeters on my ruler.

Hurkyl wins the point! btw Hurkyl check your pm
 

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