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Con Fusing - Solution

Puzzles -> Measuring Puzzles

Con FusingThe Puzzle: In front of you are several long fuses. You know they burn for exactly one hour after you light them at one end. The entire fuse does not necessarily burn at a constant speed. For example, it might take five minutes to burn through half the fuse and fifty-five minutes to burn the other half.

With your lighter and using these fuses, how can you measure exactly three-quarters of an hour of time?


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The Solution . . .

Fold one fuse and put another fuse next to it, light all three ends. When the fuse with both ends lit goes out, immediately light the other end of the lit fuse and lite a new fuse. When the second fuse goes out you will have three-quarters of an hour left burning on the third fuse.


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