Can you solve the airplane riddle? - Judd A. Schorr

譯者: Xiang Lei- 審譯者: 瑞文Eleven 林Lim

Professor Fukanō, the famous eccentric scientist and adventurer,

深野（不可能）教授 著名的古怪科學家和冒險家

has embarked on a new challenge:

開始了一個新的挑戰：

flying around the world nonstop in a plane of his own design.

用他自己設計的飛機 在世界不停的飛來飛去

Able to travel consistently at the incredible speed of one degree longitude

以難以置信的速度 每分鐘繞赤道經度一度

around the equator per minute,

持續飛行

the plane would take six hours to circle the world.

該飛機只需要六個小時 就可以環繞世界一周

There's just one problem:

只有一個問題：

the plane can only hold 180 kiloliters of fuel,

飛機只能容納 180 公秉的燃料

only enough for exactly half the journey.

只夠飛地球半圈

Let's be honest.

說實話

The professor probably could have designed the plane to hold more fuel,

教授可能會設計 能承載更多燃料的飛機

but where's the fun in that?

但如此有何樂趣？

Instead, he's devised a slightly more elaborate solution:

相反的，他精心設計了 一個解決方案：

building three identical planes for the mission.

為了完成任務 他建造了三架相同的飛機

In addition to their speed,

除了它們的速度

the professor's equipped them with a few other incredible features.

教授讓它們具備 令人難以置信的功能

Each of the planes can turn on a dime

每架飛機都可以在空中突然轉向

and instantly transfer any amount of its fuel to any of the others in midair

還可以伸出油管 將飛機的燃料給其他人

without slowing down,

並且沒有減速

provided they're next to each other.

只要它們彼此相鄰並行

The professor will pilot the first plane,

教授將駕駛一號飛機

while his two assistants Fugōri and Orokana will pilot each of the others.

而他的兩個助手傅葛利（不合理） 和奧羅卡納（愚人）

將駕駛二跟三號飛機

However, only one airport, located on the equator,

但是，只有一個機場准予實驗機起降

has granted permission for the experiment,

並位於赤道

making it the starting point,

使其成為起點和終點

the finish line,

and the only spot where the planes can land,

是唯一飛機可以著陸

takeoff,

起飛

or refuel on the ground.

或在地面加油的地方

How should the three planes coordinate

如何使三架飛機相互協調

so the professor can fly continuously for the whole trip and achieve his dream

使教授可以完成整趟旅行 實現他的夢想

without anyone running out of fuel and crashing?

且沒有人燃料用盡或墜機？

Pause here if you want to figure it out for yourself.

如果你想自己找出來答案，請暫停

Answer in: 3

3

Answer in: 2

2

Answer in: 1

1

According to the professor's calculations,

根據教授的計算

they should be able to pull it off by a hair.

他們可以很驚險地完成任務

The key is to maximize the support each assistant provides,

關鍵是助手得協助提供適量的燃料

not wasting a single kiloliter of fuel.

並避免油量過少而墜機

It also helps us to think symmetrically

它也幫助我們對稱思考

so they can make shorter trips in either direction

所以他們在任一方向 都可以做較短的旅行

while setting the professor up for a long unsupported stretch in the middle.

同時使教授長時間在途中不需幫助

Here's his solution.

這是他的解決方案：

All three planes take off at noon flying west,

這三架飛機在中午啟程往西邊飛

each fully loaded with 180 kiloliters.

每架飛機滿載 180 公秉的燃料

After 45 minutes, or one-eighth of the way around,

45 分鐘後，或八分之一的旅程時

each plane has 135 kiloliters left.

每架飛機還剩 135 公秉左右

Orokana gives 45 to the professor and 45 to Fugōri,

奧羅卡納給了 教授和傅葛利各 45 公秉

fully refueling them both.

幫他們加滿油

With her remaining 45, Orokana returns to the airport

然後用她的剩餘的 45 公秉返回機場

and heads to the lounge for a well-deserved break.

任務完成，前往休息室休息

45 minutes later, with one-quarter of the trip complete,

45 分鐘後，有四分之一的旅程完成

the professor and Fugōri are both at 135 kiloliters again.

教授和傅葛利的燃料 都剩下 135 公秉

Fugōri transfers 45 into the professor's tank,

傅葛利轉移 45 公秉的燃料給教授

leaving himself with the 90 he needs to return.

留下自己回去所需的 90 公秉

Professor Fukanō stretches and puts on his favorite album.

教授伸個懶腰 播放他最喜歡的專輯音樂

He'll be alone for a while.

他會獨處一段時間

In the meantime, Orokana has been anxiously awaiting Fugōri's return,

同時，奧羅卡納 焦急地等待傅葛利回來

her plane fully refueled and ready to go.

她的飛機已經加滿油，準備出發

As soon as his plane touches the ground, she takes off, this time flying east.

一旦他的飛機接觸到地面 她就起飛，這次向東飛

At this point, exactly 180 minutes have passed

此時，正好 180 分鐘過去了

and the professor is at the halfway point of his journey

而教授位於旅程的中途點

with 90 kiloliters of fuel left.

剩下 90 公秉的燃料

For the next 90 minutes,

在接下來的 90 分鐘

the professor and Orokana's planes fly towards each other,

教授和奧羅卡納的飛機 將飛向彼此

meeting at the three-quarter mark.

在四分之三圓處相遇

Just as the professor's fuel is about the run out,

教授的燃料快用完了

he sees Orokana's plane.

他看到了奧羅卡納的飛機

She gives him 45 kiloliters of her remaining 90,

她還剩 90 公秉 然後她給了他 45 公秉

leaving them with 45 each.

他們每人各剩下 45 公秉

But that's just half of what they need to make it to the airport.

但這只能讓他們到機場 前八分之一圓的地方

Fortunately, this is exactly when Fugōri, having refueled, takes off.

幸運的是，這時傅葛利 加完油，起飛了

45 minutes later, just as the other two planes are about to run empty,

45 分鐘後，其他兩架 飛機的燃料即將用光

he meets them at the 315 degree point

他在圓周八分之七處遇見他們

and transfers 45 kiloliters of fuel to each, leaving 45 for himself.

立刻轉移每個人 45 公秉的燃料 並為自己留下 45 公秉

All three planes land at the airport just as their fuel gauges reach zero.

三架飛機都降落在機場時 燃料同時也耗盡了

As the reporters and photographers cheer,

隨著記者和攝影師的歡呼

the professor promises his planes will soon be available for commercial flights,

教授承諾他的飛機 很快就可用於商業航班

just as soon as they figure out how to keep their inflight meals

只要他們找出飛行用餐時

from spilling everywhere.

食物不會弄髒衣服的方法