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From: ark@rabbit.UUCP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.puzzle
Subject: Avoiding the Axe Murderer
Message-ID: <2519@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-Feb-84 12:21:25 EST
Article-I.D.: rabbit.2519
Posted: Thu Feb 16 12:21:25 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Feb-84 01:09:27 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 10

A woman is in a rowboat in a circular lake.  On the shore is a man with
an axe, out to kill her.  He can run four times as fast as she can row,
and starts at the point on shore nearest her initial position.  If she
can reach any point on shore before he does, she can outrun him and escape.

Is there a strategy that will ensure her survival?  Assume that both
people know both of their positions accurately at all time, that the
shore is unobstructed all around the lake, that either of them can
reverse direction instantly, and that it takes no time for the woman to
get out of the boat and start running.