fozzzy wrote:
Can someone please provide detailed explanation! Thanks!
A milepost on the towpath read “21” on the side facing the hiker as she approached it and “23” on its back. She reasoned that the next milepost forward on the path would indicate that she was halfway between one end of the path and the other. However, the milepost one mile further on read “20” facing her and “24” behind.
Which of the following, if true, would explain the discrepancy described above?
The correct answer will resolve the "paradox", we can discard
(B) The numbers on the mileposts indicate kilometers, not miles. - this would make no difference
(E) The mileposts had originally been put in place for the use of mountain bikers, not for hikers. - this would make no difference
We are left with
(A) The numbers on the next milepost had been reversed.
(C) The facing numbers indicate miles to the end of the path, not miles from the beginning.
(D) A milepost was missing between the two the hiker encountered.
The milepost has a side with "21"(other side "23").She is running and thinks a "22" will follow
However a
20 is on the next milepost, with a 24 on its back.
In her logic the numbers increase 21+1=22 so this count is the number of miles she has run. (=
miles from the beginning)
In her path she encounters a decrease 21-1=20 so the actual number does not represent the miles she has run, but the miles LEFT to run.(=
miles to the end of the path)
Example: 10 miles
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Miles to the end=> decrease
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Miles from the beg.=> increase