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Ponder This

January 2000

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Ponder This Challenge:

We are playing baseball on an airless planet. A fly ball is hit directly towards an outfielder. The fielder can detect the changing angle that the ball makes with the horizon, but cannot directly judge changes in distance (apparent size of the ball), and there is no apparent lateral motion. How does she decide whether to move forward or backward to catch the ball?


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We invite visitors to our website to submit an elegant solution. Send your submission to the ponder@il.ibm.com.

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Challenge: 01/01/00 @ 12:00 AM EST
Solution: 02/01/00 @ 12:00 AM EST
List Updated: 04/01/00 @ 12:00 AM EST

People who answered correctly:

John Harvey (1.04.2000 @ 10:20 PM EST)
Will Hopkins (1.06.2000 @ 12:02 PM EST)
Jimmy Hu (1.10.2000 @ 4:10 PM EST)
Dan Peleg (1.10.2000 @ 8:26 PM EST)
Bruce Hoff (1.11.2000 @ 5:06 PM EST)
Jimmie Mayfield (1.11.2000 @ 10:20 PM EST)
Manikantan Srinivansan (1.15.2000 @ 12:34 PM EST)
Manish C Tayal (1.15.2000 @ 05:25 PM EST)
Mark Van Peteghem (1.22.2000 @ 05:31 PM EST)
Shmuel Spiegel (1.25.2000 @ 03:15 PM EST)
David MacMahon (1.28.2000 @ 02:29 PM EST)
Reed Green (1.30.2000 @ 05:32 PM EST)
Nicusor Timneanu (1.31.2000 @ 11:31 AM EST)
Ming-wei Wang (1.31.2000 @ 02:01 AM EST)



Attention: If your name is posted here and you wish it removed please send email to the ponder@il.ibm.com.