April 14, 2014
Problem of the Week
for Tuesday, April 21, 2014
A museum is being built to house the crown jewels. The walls will all be constructed to be at right angles with respect to each other. What is the minimum number of sides of the room that requires two guards to patrol from the inside if every wall must be observed by at least one of the guards? Construct a room that will require only two night guards to patrol the outside walls as well. Draw the picture of the rectangular-like room of minimum sides that satisfies both of these conditions. The room pictured below satisfies one of the conditions but not the other. Two night guards are sufficient for outside patrol (positions A and B) but only one day guard is required for inside patrol. (Position C).
