So You Think You're Smart, eh?
Happy New Year to all. This post marks the first in an ongoing series of fun puzzles. After a week, I'll post my answer. Ready?
Buzz is a bee sitting on the front of the engine pulling the New York Chief train. The train is traveling 55 mph towards Los Angeles. Buzz is just going along for the ride -- for now.
Across the country, the L.A. Express is headed for New York. In fact, it's on the same track as the New York Chief. It's traveling at 45 mph. At exactly the point where the trains are 3000 miles apart, Buzz begins flying in a straight line towards the L.A. Express. Once it reaches the other train, it turns around and flies back towards the N.Y. Chief. Back and forth it goes until the trains...meet.
Assuming that both trains travel in a straight line (forgetting about the curvature of the earth) and assuming that neither train varies from its speed throughout the course of the trip, assuming that Buzz stops instantly when meeting one train and, without any loss of speed, reverses direction), and further assuming that Buzz flies at 65 mph, the questions is...
How far will Buzz have traveled by the time the two trains meet?
This isn't a trick question and no other information is required other than what I've provided.
The first person whose comment reflects the correct answer will receive a fabulous prize (using a rather loose definition of "fabulous"). OK, smarties, get cracking!


If it helps, it only took a couple minutes.
I am still drunk from the 31st. ;)
I'm dying to know just how loosely you define "fabulous"! :)
For your fabulous prize...(drumroll, please)...
You get a *signed* (by me) piece of paper...err...Certificate of Smartitude, suitable for framing (or use in the smallest room in your house).
Email me your address info and I'll start the frustratingly-slow process of getting me to actually send it.