A railway puzzle

P5   0966 061007
Two railway coaches, A and B, stand on a circular track with an overhead bridge between them. An engine rests on a siding. The bridge will allow only the engine to pass beneath it. Interchnage the position of A and B, ( Bring B to A’s position and A to B’s position ).

{ Please see figure above.    Enlarge the figure, if required. )

A puzzle a day ... For non-violence.

"The best way to defeat terrorism is through non-violence".

I think, terrorism and violence are the same. Violence, in any form, is terrorism.

"Gandhiji's principle of non-violence is relevant even today" - A press report says, quoting a VVIP. But the truth is that  
Gandhiji's principle of nonviolence is relevent always, and for ever. 

The best way to defeat violence (and so terrorism) is through creating positive thoughts in the mind of everyone. This is possible only through a scientific approach.
One of the methods of creating positive thoughts in the mind is through humour and concentration.  
You know, puzzles are an excellant method to concentrate. 
Therefore, puzzles can give you concentration, pleasure, calmness, and mental health.
So... Puzzles are a method of defeating violence (terrorism).
Shall we send "a puzzle a day" to all the terrorists? That, I am sure, would bring in world peace.

Puzzle..Raipur to Rampur !

Here is the fourth puzzle. A very simple logical one.

P4 0267 05Oct07
There is a road from Hajpur to Rampur. Virpur is at just half the way between Hajpur and Rampur. Raipur is just as far from Hajpur as it is from Virpur and Virpur is as far from Raipur as it is from Rampur. If it is 20 KM from Hajpur to Raipur, how far is Raipur from Rampur ?

All the best !

Puzzle of the day

Here is the third one. A very simple mathematical puzzle.
P3 1266 04Oct07

Ajith, a villager, went to his neighbor Kasim, to borrow 4 litres of kerosene. He took a container with him. Kasim had a stock of a full bottle of 8 litres of kerosene. He agreed to share half of what he had. But they didn’t know how to share. Kasim had two empty bottles of 5 litres and 3 litres each respectively, with him. There were no other measures or other bottles, but had to divide the oil exactly into two equal parts. How could they do it ?

Puzzles : Solution to Terrorism and Violence

You now know that "A puzzle a day" series is ON. But have you thought about the significance of starting the puzzle on October 2 ? As you rightly guessed it, its "Gandhi Jayanthi" , a day for peace and non-violence in the world.  Today, I think violence, in its all forms, do trouble all of us, the world over. 
The only solution to this problem is teaching and practice of non-violence, the Gandhian principle. 
Our first puzzle is intentionally chosen. This logical problem ( I hope you had read and tried it !! ) is very meaningful (not alone interesting).
The missionary, in the hands of the cruel tribal people, is really in danger, for sure. He will be killed in one of the two methods.  But, the Chieftain, 
to show his smartness (or clever ?)  puts a question to him.
He didn't mean to offer an escape route.
Read the question, it's very clear. The cruel Chieftain must be laughing. 
But, the Missionary, tackling the question in a very intelligent manner, escaped. His answer was such that, he could not be killed.
The Chieftain had no other way, but to let the Missionary free !
See,  this is an excellant case of how intelligence outsmarted the cruelty (terrorism or violence).
The morale of the story is that, intelligence applied well (that's godly! ) can counteract all the evils of the world.
Let's all act intelligently well (that's also Gandhism) to make this world a heaven. A world without violence.
That's the answer to the puzzle of terrorism and violence.

Puzzle No. 2

P2. 1166
03Oct07

Here is the second puzzle ...

An explorer decided to go hunting one day into the thick forests. He started from his camp, walked 15 KM due South. But he could not find anything to hunt. He turned right and walked 15 KM due West. The lucky man could find a bear, and shot it. Slinging the heavy beast on his shoulders, the man started for his camp. After walking 15 Km due north, he reached his camp. What was the color of the bear ?

A PUZZLE A DAY

“A puzzle a day“
Some of my students, last day,  suggested me to post PUZZLES here. I thank them for a wonderful suggestion. Yeah, I decided to start posting puzzles here. Puzzles, like jokes, are certainly a pill for a healthy mind. Puzzles are a good pastime too. Therefore, I am very happy to initiate a new series here !!!
“A puzzle a day“

My objective of this series is to give YOU, all visitors to this place, HAPPINESS ! Happiness by keeping engaged for sometime; thinking ( and so exercising your brain) ; and deriving pleasure out of the results.

Puzzles can keep you healthy, since you are exercising your brain (intellect) and your mind. Puzzles are stress busters too ! A healthy mind in a healthy body only can make you really healthy.

Puzzles can make you wealthy, as they are good resources for all intellectual activities. They help you take good decisions, may be good business decisions too ! Good decisions make you wealthy !

Puzzles make you happy, as they are like jokes. They are stress relievers; they make you smile, laugh, and gets you the thrill of achievement.

So, I think, “a puzzle a day “ programme is worth in every dimension. Let me reframe my objective :
Let everyone say : A puzzle a day keeps me healthy wealthy and happy !

But what’s YOUR role ? I request ALL to post the answers and discussions (as comments) here. I’ll keep a track of who answers first, and award points. Who knows, someday we all may be able to institute a prize for the top scorer !

OK ? Let’s start right here. Oh before that , I must tell you that what I present here are based on puzzles published by “ScienceToday”. Thanks ST !!

The first one in the series :
**
P1.
A missionary, who was touring an island, was captured by the primitives of that island. An elaborate ceremony was on, headed by the Chief, and was to be concluded by killing the slave. The Chieftain came, and told the missionary :
“You have a choice as to the manner of your death. You can make a statement. If you are telling the truth you will be roasted. If it’s a lie, you will be cut to pieces.”
The missionary made a statement, and did live to tell this tale. What was his statement ?
**

Post your answer here.
Prasanna