Boing Boing

Boing Boing

Desert crossing puzzle: the minimum fuel problem

Mark Frauenfelder
Sep 17, 2025
∙ Paid

More Problematical Recreations, published by Litton Industries

A puzzle from More Problematic Recreations, published by Litton Industries in the early 1960s:

A truck, when fully loaded, can carry enough fuel to take it half-way across a barren desert. If the truck can return to its starting point as often as is necessary, what is the minimum amount of fue…

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Boing Boing.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Happy Mutants LLC · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture