Karma: 111975

A worm fell into a hole 13 inches deep. Every day he crawled up three inches but by nightfall he fell back two inches. How long did it take him to crawl out of the hole?

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+2 Views: 1170 Answers: 4 Posted: 12 years ago

Tags: riddle

4 Answers

Chiangmai

Karma: 370245

12 days.

Takes him 11 days to net 11 inches. On the 12th day, he advances 3 inches and gets out before falling back.

Yes, it's final: 12. (11 days would only get the worm to the top of the hole but not over).

12 years ago. Rating: 4
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witchway

No, your answer is wrong.

commented 12 years ago

Chiangmai

I'd say 11 days but it would only get the worm the edge of the hole but not over it.

Show me the answer then, smarty pants.

commented 12 years ago

witchway

The answer is 11 as you stated in your reasoning because if he is at the top of the hole, then there is no reason to slip backwards. I'm not a smarty pants - I just enjoy a good riddle honey!

commented 12 years ago

Chiangmai

I disagree. 11 will get you to the top but NOT over the hole. The bloody worm needs to have additional height to get over the hump, so to speak. 11 gets you to the rim but NOT over. Sorry, pal.

commented 12 years ago

valR

changmai, although your reasoning is good your answer is only closer to the right answer(s) than whitchway's which (pun completely incidental)is farthest.

commented 12 years ago

valR

commented 12 years ago

doolittle

Karma: 378650

doolittle enjoys this chatter about worms...however, this worm would be very ill. most worms would make it out in 7-40 minutes, depending on whether they napped.

12 years ago. Rating: 2
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valR

Soo doo I except this is not a chatter about worms.
How doo you doo?

commented 12 years ago

doolittle

The move is going...despite my pain! So Doo Do Well? & how r u val?

commented 12 years ago

valR

Karma: 217455

There are different answers for different size/length worms.

It would take a one inch long worm 12 days to be out of the hole.

A two inch long worm will be half out of the hole at the end of 12th day. It would take this worm another 3rd of the 13th day to be completely out.

A three inch long worm will have his 1st 3rd out of the hole at the end of 12th day. Assuming it can hold on into this position it would take this worm 2/3 of the 13th day to be out of the hole.

And so on...