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Ponder This

December 1998

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Ponder This Challenge:

As you leave your house in the morning, you can feel the portent of snow in the air. The weather report on the radio confirms your suspicions.

Sure enough, the snow begins to fall before noon-time, and falls at a constant rate. The city sends out its first snow plow at noon which begins removing snow at a constant rate (in cubic feet per minute.) At 1 P.M. it has gone 2 miles. At 2 P.M. it has gone 3 miles, and is still not retracing its path.

At what time did it start to snow?
Good luck!
FYI: Although this problem may appear simple at first, the solution is actually fairly complex.


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Challenge: 12/01/98 @ 12:00 AM EST
Solution: 01/01/99 @ 12:00 AM EST
List Updated: 01/04/02 @ 3:00 PM EST

People who answered correctly:


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