brain teaser 1 / myLot

Australia

November 3, 2006 7:51am CST

The boiling egg Suppose you want to cook an egg for exactly 3 minutes. You have only a 5 minute hourglass timer and a 2 minute hourglass timer. Using these 2 timers, how can you boil the egg for exactly 3 minutes?

4 responses

J_peso

@J_peso (2430)

• United States

3 Nov 06

hmm use both the timers(they are not hourglasses :) ) when the sand in 2 min timer runs out start boiling the eggs b boil till the sand in 5 min timer runs out

1 person likes this

Tanya8

@Tanya8 (1733)

• Canada

3 Nov 06

Start both timers at once. As soon as the 2 minute one is finished, start the egg. There will be 3 minutes of time remaining in the 5 minute timer.

1 person likes this

ossie16d

@ossie16d (11821)

• Australia

17 Nov 06

Use both timers. When the sand in the 2 minute timer runs through, start boiling the eggs and continue to boil until the sand in the 5 minute timer has run through. Hey presto, 3 minute eggs. LOL

@RAMPersona (2033)

• Philippines

3 Nov 06

remove the sand from 2 minute hourglass timer. then fill it with the sand from 5 minute hourglass timer. so the 5 minute hourglass timer is now 3 minute hourglass timer.

RAMPersona

@RAMPersona (2033)

• Philippines

3 Nov 06

Or if i can't remove the sand from either hourglass timer, i'll just have to start clocking with both hourglasses run simultaneously, then start cooking the egg after the 2 minute hourglass timer runs out of sand.

1 person likes this

firelight

@firelight (1858)

• Australia

4 Nov 06

Well done

RAMPersona

@RAMPersona (2033)

• Philippines

4 Nov 06

thanks

1 person likes this