April 4, 2005
Problem of the Month

The Rice Krispies Box Problem

An empty Rice Krispies box, measuring 12 by 25 by 36 cm, is lying on the floor on one of its 25 by 36 cm faces.

An ant, located at one of the bottom corners of the box, must crawl along the outside of the box to reach the opposite bottom corner.

What is the length of the shortest such path?

Note:
• The ant can walk on any of the five faces of the box, except for the bottom face, which is flush in contact with the floor.
• It can crawl along any of the edges.
• It cannot crawl under the box.

Solution to the Problem:

---

---

António Baptista used a book and a rubber band to get started. This will display the minimum path. He sent in a diagram showing this shortest path along with his solution.

Correctly solved by:

1. Jim Arrison	Norristown, Pennsylvania
2. William Proffitt	Winchester, Virginia
3. Keith Mealy	Cincinnati, Ohio
4. David & Judy Dixon	Bennettsville, South Carolina
5. Walt Arrison	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
6. Mike Singer	Winchester, Virginia
7. António Baptista	Lisboa - Portugal
8. Daniel Surber	Winchester, Virginia
9. Rob Adams	Winchester, Virginia
10. James Alarie	University of Michigan -- Flint, Flint, Michigan
11. Nathan Seifert	Harrisonburg, Virginia
12. Mikael Holmquist, Jonas Melin, Johnas Eklöf	Tullängsskolan, Sweden
13. Tom Robb	Winchester, Virginia
14. James Simmons	Harrisonburg, Virginia
15. Arsalan Heydarian	Harrisonburg, Virginia
16. Wajih Ansari	Harrisonburg, Virginia
17. Angel Plaza	Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
18. Chris Hernley	Winchester, Virginia
19. Justin Crabill	Harrisonburg, Virginia
20. Jeffrey Gaither	Winchester, Virginia

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher