You have been given the task of transporting 3,000 apples 1,000 miles from Appleland to Bananaville. Your truck can carry 1,000 apples at a time. Every time you travel a mile towards Bananaville you must pay a tax of 1 apple but you pay nothing when going in the other direction (towards Appleland).
What is highest number of apples you can get to Bananaville?
Answer
You can get 833 apples to Bananaville.
- First you have to make 3 trips of 1,000 apples for 333 miles. You will be left with 2,001 apples and 667 miles to go.
- Next you have to take 2 trips of 1,000 apples for 500 miles. You will be left with 1,000 apples and 167 miles to go (you have to leave an apple behind).
- Finally, you travel the last 167 miles with one load of 1,000 apples and are left with 833 apples in Bananaville.