A milepost on the towpath read "21" on the side facing the hiker as

Question

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?

(A) The numbers on the next milepost had been reversed.

(B) The numbers on the mileposts indicate kilometers, not miles.

(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.

(E) The mileposts had originally been put in place for the use of mountain bikers, not for hikers.

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Practice Question 
Question No.: 61
Page: 140
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Jivana · Accepted Answer

I'm not sure I understand this problem, specially the hiker's reasoning part. So I will go by POE.

A: Maybe. Let's keep it for now. 
B: Irrelevant, unit won't make a difference in this case.
 C: This sounds reasonable, because from the problem description it vaguely seems that the hiker was expecting the numbers to be in a certain order, but in fact it's reversed. Strong candidate, let's keep this for now. 
D: Maybe, maybe not. But it doesn't change the dist, or direction.
E: Irrelevant.

Between, A & C, C looks the best. So  C  for me.

suntaurian · Answer

I would answer C.

As the number facing is decreasing, it means the distance remaining is decreasing and vice versa the other num is increasing that she has covered one more unit of distance.

maratikus · Answer

I second C. That seems to be the standard way of marking mileposts on highways.

suntaurian · Answer

How about the following CR question ?? 11-t58442 SKS

alpha_plus_gamma · Answer

(A) The numbers on the next milepost had been reversed. 
(B) The numbers on the mileposts indicate kilometers, not miles.  
(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.  
(E) The mileposts had originally been put in place for the use of mountain bikers, not for hikers.

so C

sondenso · Answer

Thank all of you guys, paradox is a nightmare for me, do you have any tips for this?

pual · Answer

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?

(A) The numbers on the next milepost had been reversed． 
(B) The numbers on the mileposts indicate kilometers，not miles． 
(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． 
(E) The mileposts had originally been put in place for the use of mountain bikers，not for hikers．

pual · Answer

good explanation buddy...thanks...!!!

EnterMatrix · Answer

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?

Which of the following, if true, would explain the discrepancy described above?
(A) The numbers on the next milepost had been reversed.
(B) The numbers on the mileposts indicate kilometers, not miles.
(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.
(E) The mileposts had originally been put in place for the use of mountain bikers, not for hikers.

gautrang · Answer

I pick C.

It is exactly as C said, nothing more to add.

garimavyas · Answer

C clearly explains the so called paradox

whamberto · Answer

I have chosen the answer C for this question:

You can almost think of this question like a basic math problem. You know that the total distance of the hike is 44 miles. If this individual hikes and sees 21 on the front of the milepost and 23 on the back, you probably won't be sure what those numbers mean. However, after you hike some more and see 20 on the front and 24 on the back, it should tell you that you have just walked 1 mile and that the number on the front tells you remaining distance, not distance traveled.

A. This answer choice would be incorrect because the next sign should only be a 1 mile difference, yet we would have 21 and 24 as the milepost readings.

B. The unit of measurement is not important

C. This is the correct answer and it definitely resolves the paradox.

D. This doesn't make much sense because what milepost would be in between 21 and 20?

E. Who the milepost was put in for is irrelevant.

fozzzy · Answer

Can someone please provide detailed explanation! Thanks!

Zarrolou · Answer

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?

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

anairamitch1804 · Answer

This is a "Resolve Paradox" type question.

Reading the stimulus one thing is clear, the total distance is 21 + 23 = 44 miles. The solution can almost be pre-phrased: 
1. The stones facing her are going to increase in number - in this case they represent miles covered 
2. The stones facing her are going to decrease in number - in this case they represent miles to go 
3. There is an issue with the numbers on the milepost. the chances of this are almost nil since the addition of the values given in the stimulus is 20 + 24 = 44.

Hence let's look at the choices: 
A - Even if they were reversed they should still show 22/22 and not 20/24 or 24/20. Hence out. 
B - Does not matter what the quantity the logic will remain same for Kilometers, miles, yards .......Hence out 
C - Spot on this is point 2 above. Keep. 
D - Tough to justify, these are mileposts if one were missing then this one should have read 19 (facing)/25 or 23/21 (the sum has to be 44), depending if the posts represent distance to go or distance from start, respectively. 
E - Bikers, hunters .....hikers I believe all use the same mile. A sailor should be able to figure out the logic even though he would be thinking in terms of nautical miles. Discard.

Hence pick C

AnubhavK · Answer

Solution: Hiker sees a milepost marked 21 on one side and 23 on the other. She expects the next milepost to read 22 on both sides. However, the actual sign says 20 and 24.

C is correct - This statement resolves the discrepancy between the true meaning of the mileposts and the hiker's expectation about them by showing how the hiker misinterpreted the mileposts.

adil123 · Answer

C would be the answer . Easiest way of getting till there would be elimination process . You will find out the other options are easily eliminated.

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A milepost on the towpath read "21" on the side facing the hiker as

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