A plant is growing on wall of circular cylinder (height=240 inches, circumference=32 inches) in a helical manner. It covers 60 inches in one complete twist around cylinder. What is total length of plant when tree touches top of cylinder?

[ 240 / sqrt( 60 ^2 - 32^2) ] * 60 inches

= 283.72 inches

283.72 .......NO

~283.72?

HAH, I win!

On a side note, I hate these. We're doing his homework, not riddles.

240? - it's a trick question.  The plant is ~280 long, but is only 240 high?

~283.72? NO

240? NO

Hint: This is math puzzle , not my homework.

[ 240 / 60 ] * sqrt( 60 ^2 + 32^2) inches?

= 272 inches?

no it is not trick question....changed height to length......question is "....what is total length of plant......"

272 inches?

edit: moved it above

"not it is not..."

hmm... I believe he is trying to trick us again, only this time with double negatives.

sqrt(60^2 + 32^2)*(240/60) inches = 272 inches?

This solution interprets the sentence "It covers 60 inches in one complete twist around cylinder." as meaning the height (not length) it covers per twist.

DJ already posted this solution.

*sigh*

more number crunching.....

guess i'll have to wait for january 9th......

+0.5 Duke Jake , +0.5 Dorian gray

If you have 6-in per round circular twist, it does 4 twists.

In 1 twist it travels height of 60 in which forms vertical side of triangle (if you flatten that cylindrical shape of twist, it forms triabgle)

of which base is circumference of cylinder= 32 in. so diagonal= increase in hieght per twist = sqrt(60*60+32*32) = 68 inches

which for 4 twists gives 272inches

I can see sharing the point with Dorian in Height of Pyramid - he actually gave an explanation.

But here, he just presented the same answer I did (and even admits it himself).

How is he getting half a point?

I do not deserve half a point. Full point to DJ please.

made changes to scoreboard....