Puzzle Time: Solve the Bridge Crossing Problem

Welcome back, curious minds and puzzle enthusiasts! Are you ready to embark on a journey of mental gymnastics and problem-solving challenges? This time, the puzzle on the table is none other than the Bridge Crossing Problem.

The Puzzle

Imagine four people stranded on one side of a bridge at night, with only one flashlight to guide them. The bridge is too treacherous to cross without the light, and it can only hold two people at a time.

Each person takes a different amount of time to cross the bridge: Person A takes 1 minute, B takes 2 minutes, C takes 5 minutes, and D takes 10 minutes.

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The challenge? Get everyone safely across in 17 minutes or less. Easy peasy, right?

The Solution

1. First, A and B cross the bridge together. Since A is faster, their combined time is 2 minutes.
2. A heads back with the flashlight, which takes 1 minute.
3. Next, C and D cross the bridge together. Since D is the slowest, their combined time is 10 minutes.
4. Now, B goes back across the bridge with the flashlight, which takes 2 minutes.
5. Finally, A and B cross the bridge together again. Even though A is faster, they must move at B’s pace, taking 2 minutes.