A family with a husband, his wife and their child are at one side of river.They want to cross the river on a boat. The child can't be left alone. The only available boat can hold only one person and the boatboy.Only the boatboy can row the boat.What is the minimum number of trips from on bank to the other, that the boatboy has to makefor the whole family to reach the other side.

neelam

• May 31st, 2006

 

The Boat Boy has to make three round trip:

1) First trip he can take the Husband or wife , will leave it at other end then will be back

2) second he will take the child, leave with the father or mopther at the other end

3) the third person wither father or mother who are left

Nitin Sahdev

• Jun 5th, 2006

 

according to my thinking, it can be done in 2 trips.Practically, mother +child are not going to be more than father.so it can be that1) boatboy + (mother+Child)/Father and leave them to other side2) boatboy + the one who is left and leave them to the other side.

Zoheb

• Jun 9th, 2006

 

It will take 5 trips from one bank to the other.

First:Taking father/mother to the 2nd bank.

Second:Coming back to the first bank.

Third:Taking child to the 2nd bank.

Fourth:Moving back to the first bank.

Fifth:Taking mother/father to the 2nd bank

narendra kumar

• Jun 11th, 2006

 

i think there are 3 trips

udaykapavarapu

 Profile Answers by udaykapavarapu 

• Jun 12th, 2006

 

i think the trips are 5 because a trip is considered from one bank to other bank

so the 1st: father/mother to other bank.

          2nd:boatboy again to the first bank.

          3rd:boy to otherbank.

          4th:boatboy again to the first bank.

          5th:father/mother who is there on the other bank to the first bank