B318 Solution

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Solution to CyberTeaser B318

Figure for B318 solution The answer is six days. To prove the baron's statement can't be true for seven days, let's put a point corresponding to each day under consideration on a line and connect with an arrow the days for which we know Münchhausen shot fewer ducks (the beginning of the arrow) than on the second day (the end of the arrow). We obtain the figure shown. The chain of arrows is closed, which means that the assumption that Münchhausen could make that statement for seven days was wrong. If we consider only six days, it's easy to construct an example satisfying the conditions of the problem. On July 31 he shot one duck, on August 2 two, on August 4 three, and so on. On August 5 he shot eight ducks, and every day before July 30 he shot, say, 2,000 ducks.

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