The buses at this stop leave at the times indicated by the schedule below. The first column marks the hour, and the next three mark the minutes. All the buses start at this bus stop and take exactly one hour to return.
What is the minimum number of buses necessary to service this bus stop?
UK Version
The buses on this route leave the times indicated on the bus stop's timetable. All the buses start at this bus stop and take exactly one hour to get back here.
How many buses are necessary to cover all the bus departure times indicated?
The key to this puzzle is that it takes a bus one hour to return to this stop. Look at the timetable, and figure out which times a single bus could cover.
UK Version
The key to this puzzle is that it takes any bus one hour to return to the bus stop. Look at the timetable and work out which times a single bus could cover.
US Version
If the first bus leaves at 7:05, it will return at 8:05. So different buses will be required for 7:15 and 7:40. Follow this logic to figure out how many buses are needed in total.
UK Version
If the first bus leaves at 07:05, it won't return until 08:05. As such, there will have to be different buses for the 07:15 and 07:40 departures.
Follow this logic to work out how many buses are needed in total.
US Version
Three buses are needed from 7:00. Two of the buses return in time for the 8:10 and 8:20 departures, but an extra bus will be required to cover the 8:30 departure. How many buses are needed in all?
UK Version
Three buses are needed between 07:00 and 08:00. Two of these buses return in time for the 08:10 and 08:20 departures, but an extra bus will be required to cover the 08:30 departure. So, how many buses are needed in total, so far?
US Version
Four buses are required for the timetable to run smoothly until 8:30, but one extra bus is needed to depart at 11:10.
You should be able to figure out if any more buses are needed for the rest of the timetable.
UK Version
There need to be four buses for all departures from 07:00 to 08:30 to run smoothly.
These buses can then handle all the departures for quite a while, but one extra bus is needed for the 11:10 departure.
You should be able to work out if any more buses are needed for the rest of the timetable.
Solution
Incorrect
US Version
Too bad!
Give it another try.
UK Version
Bad luck!
Give it another try.
Correct
US Version
Correct!
At least five buses are necessary to serve this route. Four buses wouldn't be quite enough.
UK Version
All aboard!
At least five buses are necessary to operate this route. Four buses wouldn't be quite enough.