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037 - World's Best Golfer038 - Moving Day 039 - A Change of Clothes

Moving Day (Four Horses in the UK version) is a puzzle in Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box.

Puzzle

US Version

You have four horses, all of which travel at different speeds. In traveling form point A to point B, these horses take one, two, four, and six hours respectively.

One day, you decide to move all your horses from point A to point B. However, you can only move a maximum of two horses at a time, and you need to ride a horse back to point A each time you return to move your other horses. Knowing you can only move as fast as the slowest horse you're traveling with, what's the fewest number of hours it will take to complete your move?

UK Version

You have four horses, all of which travel at different speeds. In travelling from point A to point B, these horses take one, two, four and six hours respectively.

One day, you decide to move all your horses from point A to point B. However, you can only move a maximum of two horses at a time, and you need to ride a horse back to point A each time you return to move your other horses. Knowing you can only move as fast as the slowest horse you're travelling with, what's the fewest number of hours it will take to move all the horses?

Hints

Click a Tab to reveal the Hint.

When crossing back over from B to A, you want to move as quickly as possible, so make sure you put yourself in a position to cross over to A on the one-hour horse when possible.

US Version

However, if you always make traveling back on your one-hour horse your top priority, you may end up wasting time on other legs of the journey. Don't assume you always need to return from B to A on the one-hour horse.

UK Version

However, if you always make travelling back on your one-hour horse your top priority, you may end up wasting time on other legs of the journey. Don't assume you always need to return from B to A on the one-hour horse.

In order to move all your horses from A to B in the shortest amount of time, you'll need to cross over from A to B three times and return from B to A twice.

How do you make the most effective use of this limited number of crossings?

First, bring your one-hour and two-hour horses over to B, then return to A on your one-hour horse.

Next, bring your four- and six-hour horses over to B and return to A on your two-hour horse.

US Version

This method minimizes the overall amount of time necessary to move all your horses to point B.

UK Version

This method minimises the overall amount of time necessary to move all your horses to point B.


Solution

Incorrect

Too bad!

US Version

Think hard about the clues you've been given and try again.

UK Version

Think hard about what the puzzle is asking you to do.

Correct

That's right!

US Version

To start, take your one- and two-hour horses. Then ride your one-hour horse back. Next, ride out on your four- and six-hour horses, and return on your two-hour horse. At this point you've been moving horses for 11 hours--three in the first excursion, and eight in the next.

Now you should be back at point A with your one- and two-hour horses. Ride them both across to point B to finish the task in 13 hours.

UK Version

To start, take your one- and two-hour horses. Then ride your one-hour horse back. Next, ride out on your four- and six-hour horses, and return on your two-hour horse. At this point you've been moving horses for 11 hours - three in the first excursion, and eight in the next.

Now you should be back at point A with your one- and two-hour horses. Ride them both across to point B to finish the task in 13 hours.

DB038S
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