Answer to April 22, 2002 Problem

The Bookworm Problem

A hungry bookworm literally ate his way through a set of encyclopedias -- right from page one of Volume I to the last page of Volume VIII. The books were each 1" thick, not including their covers, which were each 1/7" thick. They sat side by side on the bookshelf in order from left to right. How many inches of books did the bookworm go through?

Solution:

The answer is 8 inches (not 10 inches or 10 2/7 inches).

Page 1 of volume I is on the right side of the book and the last page of Volume VIII is on the left side of the book. So, the bookworm only travels through fourteen covers and six books.

Geoff Keith noted that
1. If the books are right side up it's 8 inches, since page 1 is on the right side and he won't eat either vol 1 or vol 8 books..
2. If the books are upside down, then it's 10 inches.


Correctly solved by:

1. Christopher March Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
2. Richard Johnson La Jolla, California
3. David & Judy Dixon Bennettsville, South Carolina
4. Keith Mealy Cincinnati, Ohio
5. Taverlee Lum Winchester, Virginia
6. Daniel Foster Winchester, Virginia
7. Rich Murray Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada
8. Walt Arrison Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
9. ---------- United Kingdom
10. James Alarie University of Michigan -- Flint, Michigan
11. Kelsey Dufendach Rockford, Michigan
12. Vanessa Kargenian Rockford, Michigan
13. Dee Gulis Rockford, Michigan
14. Geoff Keith Santa Monica, California
15. David Stark Winchester, Virginia
16. Marshal Diehl Winchester, Virginia
17. John Beasley Winchester, Virginia