http://mathfactor.uark.edu/2005/10/the-way-out-of-the-forest/ The Math Factor Podcast Site Fri, 08 Aug 2014 12:52:06 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.25 http://mathfactor.uark.edu/2005/10/the-way-out-of-the-forest/comment-page-1/#comment-845 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:33:28 +0000 http://theserver.uark.edu/~strauss/?p=51#comment-845 And we ask a new puzzle: what is the smallest number of marks you need to make on a 12? rod to be able to measure any number of inches, from 1? to 12?.
Answer 1: Single mark at 1″. Then use as dividers
Answer 2: two marks at 3″ and 1′ where
1=1
2=3-1
3=3
4=3+1
5= comp 3, (i.e. 9) -3-1
6= comp 3, (i.e. 9) -3
7= comp 3, (i.e. 9) -3+1
8= comp 3, (i.e. 9) -1
9= comp 3
10= ruler – 3+1
11=ruler -1 1
2=ruler

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