Math brain teaser

I think you may have an error in the way you stated the problem, as it works out to less than one man. I will restate the problem to make sure I understand it correctly: if a man and a half can eat a pie and a half in a minute and a half, how many men does it take to eat 17 pies in 30 minutes? Although perhaps I should think of this as riddle rather than a math question - after all how could anyone eat 17 pies at a go?

I like a different version of this brain teaser - one that almost always fools people unless they think carefully: if a chicken and a half lays an egg and a half in a day and a half, how long does it it take one chicken to lay one egg?

The question/riddle is asking how many men (plural) to eat 17 pies in 30 mins; are you saying this is unsolvable?

That would be ONE Adam Richman ;)

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Originally Posted by kelleyad

the question/riddle is asking how many men (plural) to eat 17 pies in 30 mins; are you saying this is unsolvable?

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Not at all, it's quite easy. Hint - the rate at which a single man can consume pies is 2/3 of a pie per minute. Which means all by himself a single man can consume 20 pies in 30 minutes, and hence to finish off only 17 pies takes one man less than 30 minutes.

You're a genius! Thank you.