Old Brain Teaser: 10 Men & 10 Holes

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a brain teaser involving a scenario where six men can dig six holes in six minutes, and participants are tasked with determining how long it would take ten men to dig ten holes. The conversation includes various interpretations and responses to the problem, exploring both mathematical reasoning and humorous takes on the scenario.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the answer is 6 minutes, implying a direct proportionality based on the initial conditions.
  • Others propose different answers, such as 4 minutes, indicating a possible misunderstanding or alternative interpretation of the problem.
  • A participant expresses frustration at the simplicity of the question, suggesting that it should be obvious to everyone.
  • One participant introduces a humorous angle, suggesting that if a construction site manager is involved, they could use machinery to expedite the process.
  • Another comment humorously critiques the efficiency of workers in a specific context, implying that not all men would be actively digging.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the answer to the brain teaser, with multiple competing views and interpretations present in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants express various assumptions about the efficiency of the men and the nature of the task, but these assumptions are not universally agreed upon. The mathematical reasoning is also not fully resolved, as different interpretations lead to different conclusions.

cubed
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old brain teaser...

I don't know how old it its but it's old.

Ok...

If six men can dig six holes in six minutes then,
how many minutes will it take for ten men to dig ten holes?
 
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6 minutes??
 
Huckleberry said:
-- Removed --
I would agree.

The Bob (2004 ©)
 
That's obvious. but the first thing ojne things of, at the very streinght begining, just after reading it, is that it is bigger, and you have to multiply sometihng or whatever.

If someone doesn't get the answer, please, go kill yourself. for the sake of everyone.
 
um... 4 minutes? :)
 
that's obvious, Huckleberry got it. 1 man dig 1 hole in 6 min
 
(10men/6men)x(6holes/10holes)x6minutes

...but where is the puzzle? :zzz:
 


either they could dig the holes and waste that long amount of time and people, or rent a tractor and do it with less people in less time.
tor

Exercise hard, eat right, die anyway.
 


If 1/10 of those men is a construction site manager, then he has access to industrial diggers. So he could then reserve one of the diggers and get one of the other 9 men to finish digging the holes which would take about 4-5 minutes.
 
  • #10


If ir was Cal Trans , 1 man would dig and the other 5 would lean on their shovels.
 
  • #11


6 minutes
 

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