Teaser Of The Day No. 296

[Carl]

You hold two different strings of different lengths. You also have a book of matches.

If you lit one end of the longer string it will burn for about 10 minutes. If the shorter string is burned it will take only about 1 minute.

Using these strings you have to attempt to measure precisely 5 and a half minutes of time.

There are a few tools you are unable to use as well. You do not have scissors or anything to cut the string. You also do not have the ability to bend the string correctly in half as it is too rigid. You also cannot accurately estimate the half point of either of the strings just by looking at them because it would still not be entirely accurate.

How can you measure the five minutes and thirty seconds ?


Answer will be provided next Thursday evening after 21:00.

[elcarretero]

Use a ruler to measure the long string and mark the halfway point. Light both ends of the short string, when it is burnt(30 seconds) light one end of the long string. When it burns up to the half way mark that would be 5 minutes 30 seconds.

[Carl]

ANSWER

To measure exactly five minutes and thirty seconds, you will have to light both ends of the longer string first.

You will allow both ends to burn consistently until they meet in the middle at five minutes.

Immediately after both flames meet, you will have to do the same to the second string to measure the thirty seconds.