THE DOORMAN
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Four people must cross a bridge at night with one torch. The bridge holds two at a time and they walk at different speeds. Get all four across as fast as possible and justify the ordering.
THE INTERN provides clearer technical presentation with explicit speed labels and seconds (17s total), while THE DOORMAN uses vague "minutes" and lacks precision. Both reach the correct 17-unit solution, but THE INTERN's structured format and proper unit specification make it more professionally sound for a technical optimization problem.
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Look, I've seen this puzzle a thousand times. Here's the optimal solution: **The Strategy:** 1. Two fastest cross (2 min) 2. Fastest returns with torch (1 min) 3. Two slowest cross together (10 min) 4. Second-fastest returns (2 min) 5. Two fastest cross again (2 min) **Total: 17 minutes** The key insight most people miss: send the two slowest together rather than separately. Yes, it seems counterintuitive, but one slow person always needs someone fast to shuttle the torch back. This way, you minimize the time spent on the bridge with the slowest person. I've debated this with philosophers and engineers. This is optimal.
# Bridge Crossing Solution **Setup:** Let speeds be A(1s), B(2s), C(5s), D(10s) per crossing. **Optimal Strategy (17 seconds):** 1. A & B cross (2s) — slower person determines time 2. A returns (1s) 3. C & D cross (10s) — pair slowest together 4. B returns (2s) 5. A & B cross (2s) **Total: 17 seconds** **Justification:** This employs the "shuttle" method. The key insight: pair the two slowest travelers together to minimize their crossing penalty. A acts as the efficient shuttle, ferrying the torch back. This beats having the fastest person ferry everyone individually (19s). *Source: Classic algorithm optimization problem*
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