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From: Hal Levine <hlevin_at_jlc.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 10:46:36 -0400
In a perfect world,  let's say you are planning to paddle a linear
distance of six (6) miles at three (3)  miles per hour against a one (1)
mile per hour current how long should it take you if you don't stop?
How long will it take if you take a five (5) minute rest break every
fifteen (15) minutes (just stop paddling and let the current have its
way)?
Practical math or practically magic?

--

    Hal
    Wilton, NH

    Power your boat with carbohydrates,
    not hydrocarbons.
    http://www.jlc.net/~hlevin


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From: Elaine Harmon <eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 11:44:23 -0400 (EDT)
On Thu, 26 Aug 1999, Hal Levine wrote:

> In a perfect world,  let's say you are planning to paddle a linear
> distance of six (6) miles at three (3)  miles per hour against a one (1)
> mile per hour current how long should it take you if you don't stop?

OK, speed nets out to 2 mi/hr...

> How long will it take if you take a five (5) minute rest break every
> fifteen (15) minutes (just stop paddling and let the current have its
> way)?

...then speed averages to 1 mi/hr, as in 15' you go 1/3 mi in 10 min., 
minus 1/12 mi in the next 5 min.

> Practical math or practically magic?

Don't understand what the point is...(?)

Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu

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From: David Seng <David_at_wainet.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 08:16:45 -0800
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hal Levine [mailto:hlevin_at_jlc.net]
> In a perfect world,  let's say you are planning to paddle a linear
> distance of six (6) miles at three (3)  miles per hour 
> against a one (1)
> mile per hour current how long should it take you if you don't stop?
> How long will it take if you take a five (5) minute rest break every
> fifteen (15) minutes (just stop paddling and let the current have its
> way)?
> Practical math or practically magic?
> 


OK - Here's my shot at it...  and I know that I'm possibly exposing my
frightful mathematical skills to the world

a)  3 hours - effective paddling speed calculated at 2 mph
b)  14.42 hours - forward progress in 15 minutes .5 miles, drift in five
minutes .084 miles
, total forward progress in a 20 minute time period .416 miles.  6 miles
divided by .416 = my guess.
Don't know if my scratchin and figgurin is right or not, but it was an
interesting question to start the day.

Dave Seng - not a math whiz by any stretch of anyone's imagination!
Juneau, Alaska
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From: David Seng <David_at_wainet.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 09:14:34 -0800
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Hal Levine [mailto:hlevin_at_jlc.net]
> > In a perfect world,  let's say you are planning to paddle a linear
> > distance of six (6) miles at three (3)  miles per hour 
> > against a one (1)
> > mile per hour current how long should it take you if you don't stop?
> > How long will it take if you take a five (5) minute rest break every
> > fifteen (15) minutes (just stop paddling and let the 
> current have its
> > way)?
> > Practical math or practically magic?
> > 
> 
> 
> OK - Here's my shot at it...  and I know that I'm possibly exposing my
> frightful mathematical skills to the world
> 
> a)  3 hours - effective paddling speed calculated at 2 mph
> b)  14.42 hours - forward progress in 15 minutes .5 miles, 
> drift in five
> minutes .084 miles
> , total forward progress in a 20 minute time period .416 
> miles.  6 miles
> divided by .416 = my guess.
> Don't know if my scratchin and figgurin is right or not, but it was an
> interesting question to start the day.
> 
> Dave Seng - not a math whiz by any stretch of anyone's imagination!
> Juneau, Alaska


OK, I'll correct myself - .416 miles in 20 minutes works out to a forward
rate of 1.25 mph
so the six miles will take 4.8 hours.

Dave - who will now stop demonstrating his ignorance<g>
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From: <dmccarty_at_us.ibm.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 15:01:49 -0400
Hmmmm,

Do I get a Gold Star if I get the right answer?

I don't like math but I ciphered 3 hours if'n you don't stop and 5 hours if you
do.  Kinda surpised me but stopping every 15 minutes for 5 minute rest is
expensive.  Plus the "ground" you loose while sitting still for 20 minutes out
of 60 just makes it worse.

Do I get a can of pepper spray for a reward?  Or the book on "How to Sh.t in the
Woods?"  Bungee cords?

Later....
Dan McCarty


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From: Dan Hagen <dan_at_hagen.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 12:16:35 -0700
Hal Levine wrote:
> 
> In a perfect world,  let's say you are planning to paddle a linear
> distance of six (6) miles at three (3)  miles per hour against a one (1)
> mile per hour current how long should it take you if you don't stop?
> How long will it take if you take a five (5) minute rest break every
> fifteen (15) minutes (just stop paddling and let the current have its
> way)?

...and the answer is...

4 hours 45 minutes.

I have not double checked this, but it seems obvious. BTW, it is easier
if you do it in base 12, since the distances traveled per cycle are in
12ths of a mile. :-)

(Dave Seng was on the right track, but his answer must be based on
Alaskan hours, which apparently are only 20 minutes long. Dave also
forgot to allow for the fact that in the last cycle of paddle-drift, you
won't get to the drift stage since you will have arrived at your
destination.)

Dan Hagen
Bellingham, Washington
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From: <gpwecho_at_juno.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 15:34:44 -0500
On Thu, 26 Aug 1999 10:46:36 -0400 Hal Levine <hlevin_at_jlc.net> writes:
>In a perfect world,  let's say you are planning to paddle a linear
>distance of six (6) miles at three (3)  miles per hour against a one 
>(1)
>mile per hour current how long should it take you if you don't stop?
>How long will it take if you take a five (5) minute rest break every
>fifteen (15) minutes (just stop paddling and let the current have its
>way)?
>Practical math or practically magic?
>
>    Hal
>    Wilton, NH
>

Holy Cow Batman, Shades of Sixth period Science Stuff ...
Hmmm, probably has something to do with  
	
	distance  =  rate  x  time

Let's see,  if I go at 3 and current bangs at 1 then we all go at 
......2 ?

It could be worse Batman  ....we could be doing metrics here !!

Now, about those rest stops  .....Hmmm, taking off 20 minutes of every 60
must reduce something  ....Maybe I will only be .6667 of the man I use to
be.    Would that make something less of  my  unfeathered 3  here ?  
Yes, the current is still banging away. 

....Help me,  Batman,  Help me !    I'm struggling !!

Alright, dammit,   why is the boat moving backwards while I'm catching my
breath ?
(Well if you get my DRIFT  the 20 minutes I rest each hour for the
....what was it there  ...a  6  ?    ...allows this contrary ONE to leave
me some 120 minutes away from where I want to be.  Making that up makes
everything come out relatively even making the correct answer  to be 
^%#$_at_4e.   Oops, what a badd tim to havvve a serrrver
problemmmxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx     ERROR CODE 013   xxxx

Hal, you're almost as much fun as Monday morning !!    8-)
....adieu   ...Peyton  (Louisiana)

 

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From: John Waddington <waddinj_at_recorder.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 16:53:49 -0400
Hal Levine wrote:
> 
> In a perfect world,  let's say you are planning to paddle a linear
> distance of six (6) miles at three (3)  miles per hour against a one (1)
> mile per hour current how long should it take you if you don't stop?
> How long will it take if you take a five (5) minute rest break every
> fifteen (15) minutes (just stop paddling and let the current have its
> way)?
> Practical math or practically magic?
>

I get 2 hours and 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes you have paddled 0.5
(6/12) miles.  You then drift back 0.083+ (1/12) miles leaving you at
0.415+ or 5/12 miles after 20 minutes.  After 1 hour you are at 3 times
this or 1.25 (1 1/4) miles.  After 2 hours you are at 2.5 (2 1/2)
miles.  In the next 15 minutes you paddle 0.5 (1/2) and are there
without having to drift back.

John
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From: Joe Brzoza <joebr_at_burton.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 17:53:01 -0400
Sorry John - you have only gone 3 miles - you need to have gone 6.  You were
on the right track though.

I've lost track of all of the answers but I come up with 4 hours and 45
minutes.  I'm assuming that once you stop paddling you immediately drift
backwards at 1 mph.  Must be using an unfeathered paddle?

Now back to my pudding.....



-----Original Message-----
From: John Waddington [mailto:waddinj_at_recorder.ca]
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 1999 4:54 PM
To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......


Hal Levine wrote:
> 
> In a perfect world,  let's say you are planning to paddle a linear
> distance of six (6) miles at three (3)  miles per hour against a one (1)
> mile per hour current how long should it take you if you don't stop?
> How long will it take if you take a five (5) minute rest break every
> fifteen (15) minutes (just stop paddling and let the current have its
> way)?
> Practical math or practically magic?
>

I get 2 hours and 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes you have paddled 0.5
(6/12) miles.  You then drift back 0.083+ (1/12) miles leaving you at
0.415+ or 5/12 miles after 20 minutes.  After 1 hour you are at 3 times
this or 1.25 (1 1/4) miles.  After 2 hours you are at 2.5 (2 1/2)
miles.  In the next 15 minutes you paddle 0.5 (1/2) and are there
without having to drift back.

John
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From: Dan Hagen <dan_at_hagen.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 16:43:25 -0700
Joe Brzoza wrote:

> I've lost track of all of the answers but I come up with 4 hours and 45
> minutes.  

That's correct! (I posted the answer this morning, but it never made it
to the list.)

> I'm assuming that once you stop paddling you immediately drift
> backwards at 1 mph.  Must be using an unfeathered paddle?

Nope! Your assumption is necessary for your answer, but you are wrong
about this implying the use of an unfeathered paddle. :-)  If you were
using an unfeathered paddle you could set your paddle down on the deck
with both blades slicing into the wind. With a feathered paddle, when
you set your paddle on the deck in front of you at least one blade will
be slowing you down. 

Dan Hagen
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From: Mark Zen <canoeist_at_netbox.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 17:57:54 +0000
At 10:46 8/26/99 -0400, Hal Levine <hlevin_at_jlc.net> wrote:
>In a perfect world,  let's say you are planning to paddle a linear
>distance of six (6) miles at three (3)  miles per hour against a one (1)
>mile per hour current how long should it take you if you don't stop?

i'll bite, with a different answer, just to play the devil's advocate...
you're paddling 3 miles per hour, 2 hours [i'm going to assume ;-) the 
boat is moving forward 3mph relative to the land, not the water under it!!

>How long will it take if you take a five (5) minute rest break every
>fifteen (15) minutes (just stop paddling and let the current have its
>way)?
>Practical math or practically magic?

i get 3 hours & 50 minutes, with above assumption ;-)

mark

>--
>
>    Hal
>    Wilton, NH
>
>    Power your boat with carbohydrates,
>    not hydrocarbons.
>    http://www.jlc.net/~hlevin
>
>
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>
>
#------canoeist[at]netbox[dot]com--------------------------------------
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po box 474                   </     [\/              [\_|   [\_\
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#~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~
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From: Dan Hagen <dan_at_hagen.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 23:00:27 -0700
Sidney_Stone_at_amsinc.com wrote:
> 
> ...
> The answer to Question 2 is 4.8 hours (4 hours 48 minutes).  Here's the
> math:
> 
> ...<snip>...
>
> 6 miles divided by 1.25 mph = 4.8 hours
> 

Sidney, this last step is where you made your mistake--misapplying the
1.25 mph average. The average speed of 1.25 mph only applies to a full
cycle of "paddle forward-drift back". On the last cycle you reach your
destination prior to the "drift back" portion of the cycle (thus raising
the average speed for the last portion of the journey). This can be seen
as follows:

After 4 hours at the average speed of 1.25 mph, you will have gone 5
miles, one mile short of your destination. At this point you will
complete two additional paddle-forward-and-drift-back cycles, which will
take 40 minutes and move you 10/12 mile, leaving you 2/12ths of a mile
short. As you begin the last cycle you paddle forward at a net speed of
2 mph, and thus complete the final 2/12ths of a mile in 5 minutes (for a
total time of 4 hours and 45 minutes).  Since this last leg only takes 5
minutes of paddling, you arrive prior to the final "drift back" portion
of the cycle. For the last 2/12ths of a mile you are averaging 2 mph,
not 1.25 mph (as your calculation assumes).

I hope that this clears things up.

Dan Hagen
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From: David Seng <David_at_wainet.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] You do the math.......
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 08:26:53 -0800
 -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan Hagen [mailto:dan_at_hagen.net]
snip
> (Dave Seng was on the right track, but his answer must be based on
> Alaskan hours, which apparently are only 20 minutes long. 

  Just trying to cram as many daylight hours in as possible before winter
and the dark!!<g>
It's Friday and the sun is shining bright above the fog on the water - a
sure sign to take the afternoon off and go for a paddle.

Dave Seng
Juneau, Alaska

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