All Means Possible ? 

The Problem:

 You have two rods made of pure gold. Doesn�t everyone?

You want to cut one of the rods into two pieces, so that one of the resulting three pieces is exactly the average of the other two pieces.

 Is this always possible?

 

You might like to try out some strategies on the following rods:

A         70cm and 30cm

B         50cm and 40cm

C         80cm and 40cm

 

Is there ever more than one way to solve the problem?

What initial lengths of rod make the division into three pieces most equal?

 

Open the File as a Word Document

 

Send site mail to [email protected]  or personal comments direct to with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: June 18, 2007