The Camel Problem--Hints

1.(This hint is for before you work on the mini-camel problem) If the camel heads straight for market with 1000 bananas, then the camel brings no bananas to market, and must abandon 2000 bananas, because the camel has no bananas left to travel home with. Is there some way the camel can move all of the bananas towards market without abandoning any?

2. Make sure you understand how to solve the mini-camel problem. (OK, click here for a solution !)

3.In order to show that the number of bananas you got to market is the best possible, try to find a rule that the camel can use when loading up, to make sure that the bananas are moved as efficiently as possible. In order to do this you might try several different variations on your basic approach and see how the number of bananas changes with each approach.

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Created: January 19 1998. Modified October 6, 1999