POW#3 Spring 2022

Solutions due by noon on Friday, February 25

Traversing a Cereal Box

A small ant is standing at the bottom corner (A) of a 12”x9”x3” cereal box.  The box has a small opening at the opposite top corner (B).

If the ant can walk anywhere on the surface of the box, what path should it take to minimize the distance it must walk to get to the opening?  Justify your answer.

What is the length of its shortest path?

This problem is brought to you by Prof. Robin Lock.

Back to Problems of the Week