The Grey Labyrinth is a collection of puzzles, riddles, mind games, paradoxes and other intellectually challenging diversions. Related topics: puzzle games, logic puzzles, lateral thinking puzzles, philosophy, mind benders, brain teasers, word problems, conundrums, 3d puzzles, spatial reasoning, intelligence tests, mathematical diversions, paradoxes, physics problems, reasoning, math, science.

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

did i miss something? if the tree grows 1 inch per year, and the marker starts at 1/4
the height of the 50 foot tree, doesn't the
marker grow at 1/4 of 1 inch per year.

in real life, trees grow unevenly with the
majority of the growth at the top of the tree. This assumes all of the growth occurs from the base of the tree.

Andy · Daedalian Member

Nice catch - the arithmetic given in the solution assumes that the tree growth (in height) is entirely at the base or at least all below the 12-1/2 foot point. Your correction to 1/4" per year for the marker's height is reasonable, assuming that the tree grows up evenly throughout its height. Of course, as you and the official solution point out, trees don't grow that way.

Buzzsaw · Newbie Guidance Counselor

Yes, trees only elongate from the branch and root tips. The rest of the tree increases in girth or diameter as it grows.
Brillo