Right Foot Forward

[zenith20]

Right Foot Forward
A short man takes three steps to a tall man's two steps. They both start out on the left foot. How many steps do they have to take before they are both stepping out on the right foot together?

Could anyone help me solve this? (detailed answer please)

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Right Foot Forward
A short man takes three steps to a tall man's two steps.

Are we talking about time or distance? Are they covering the same distance at the same time?

They both start out on the left foot. How many steps do they have to take before they are both stepping out on the right foot together?

Could anyone help me solve this? (detailed answer please)

 

[zenith20]

Dear Subhotosh Khan,

i'm not sure, but i guess it's a matter of distance. it's an old puzzle i've found.

 

[galactus]

It would appear if the short man takes 6 steps and the tall man 4 steps, then they both come out on the right foot.


Short

/
\
/
\
/
\

Tall


/
\
/
\

See?. at the top of each there is a /. Each steps out with the right foot. Unless there is something I am missing, that is about all there is to it.

 

[soroban]

Hello, zenith20!

The problem has a sneaky wording . . .

A short man takes three steps to a tall man's two steps. .They both start out on the left foot.
How many steps do they have to take before they are both stepping out on the right foot together?

The 3:2 ratio is in terms of Time.

While the short man (S) takes 3 steps, the tall man (T) takes 2 steps.

I agree with galactus . . .


. . \(\displaystyle \begin{array}{c|c} \text{Short} & \text{Tall} \\ \hline\hline \;&\; \\ \hline L & \; \\ \hline \; & L \\ \hline R & \; \\ \hline \; & \; \\ \hline L & R \\ \hline\hline \; & \; \\ \hline R & \; \\ \hline \; & L \\ \hline L & \; \\ \hline \;&\; \\ \hline R & R \\ \hline \hline \end{array}\)


\(\displaystyle \text{Answer: }\:\begin{Bmatrix}S\text{ takes 5 steps.} \\ T\text{ takes 3 steps.} \end{Bmatrix}\)

 

[zenith20]

Thanks alot for the solution. i'm a bit confused. if "Stepping Out" means "starting a new step" i came to the conclusion They will NEVER step out with their right foot together!!!

i've illustrated what i have understood from the puzzle:
please help me if i'm wrong: