Burning tent on an elliptical island
- Author:
- Judah L Schwartz
- Topic:
- Angles, Reflection
Our hero is camping on a elliptical island. From a distance she sees her tent burning.
She runs toward the water with her GOLD pail in hand, fills it and heads for her tent.
Toward what point on the shore should she run to travel the shortest distance?
Does this strategy always work?
Could she have set up the tent on a spot so that in case of a fire getting water from
any point on the shore would be equally good?