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[xkittyx]

Someone is annoying me with this puzzle. The plan is that all 3 houses need pipes running to them for gas, water and electric however the pipes cannot cross.

If you work it out can you repost the pic with an answer... also sorry for the dodgy paint job.
xx

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/2180/houses2up.png

[Simon]

Its impossible. Apparently this is something my brother was told in a maths lesson. Tell the person who is annoying you to shit off, they are being a rasklart.

[Ste150]

Research business principles, involving mergers, take overs and monopolies.
Then redraw the picture with a super-utility company, which provides gas, electricity and water at a reduced cost. This should just be one circle
Now draw 3 lines, one to each house.

Sorted :)

[CodingTim]

It is possible if the pipes are allowed to go *under* the houses, then you can have gas along the bottom to each house, electricity along the top to each house, and water underneath each house. (On the diagram, I mean "underneath" to be represented by drawing a line through the houses).

I have a feeling that answer might invoke the response "hey, you're not allowed to do that, it's supposed to be impossible!" :p

edit: Hmm. I got automerged - Fezwald deleted his post. Way to make me look silly. :)

[Flava Dave]

The first house is inhabited by mormons, hence the donkey (which may or may not look like a reindeer). I win. In your face, science!

[TX_101]

I don't think it's possible if there has to be 9 pipes (3 from each company).

However it is if you can go under a house or company,

[faragher]

Voila!

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/4848/utils9zn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It's a lateral thinking puzzle

[captain canuck]

Its impossible. Apparently this is something my brother was told in a maths lesson. Tell the person who is annoying you to shit off, they are being a rasklart.

indeed it's not possible mathematically. the solution has to do with graphic set theory. It can be represented as a planar graph. You can either use arithmetic based on Euler's Formula for a Planar Graph or geometry of the Jordan Curve Theorem; both wind up demonstrating that there's one too many lines involved for a closed circuit - i.e. no matter where you put the extra line it will cross the plane created by the other two.


It's a lateral thinking puzzle This, of course, is a non-mathematical "solution". It connects all the houses (and seems to work because the houses have a physical size, whereas points on a graph are just points on a graph), but not equally; what if the first house uses up all the gas, for instance?

[RobW]

If we use a metal fork to conduct electricity, we have the answer.

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3891/fork6wl.png

[basstard]

Remember that our world contains three dimensions.

Thus, have the gas and water pipes running underground, but have the electricity cables run overground on the form of pylons. Observe :

*Note the gas to house 2 wire doesn't go through the pylon, it goes under it, thus ensuring that the pipes never touch.

http://img274.imageshack.us/img274/6827/pylon4oi.png

Excuse the shoddy MSPainting, I might photoshop / pixellate a decent pic later tonight if I'm not drunk too busy working.

Easily solved!

[Garry3]

Lesson #1

Pipes can travel THROUGH houses and have taps coming off them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v91/garryj/lesson.jpg

[Yorkshire Tea]

CTNP wins a hug.

[Nuclear Spoon]

All 3 go in one pipe. SORTED.
http://img427.imageshack.us/img427/1087/result5mu.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Ste150]

Gas. Electricity. Water. One Pipe.

What could go wrong there?

[MONKEY050]

Well, let's explore the possiblities.

1) Gas + Electricity = Boom
2) Electricity + Water = Death
3) Gas + Water = I farted in the tub.

[Nuclear Spoon]

All 3 pipes inside one pipe I meant...

[MONKEY050]

Oh well then I misinterpreted ste150's post...

But still.... Gas + Water stands true.

[dude in a box]

Why dont we just say that a certain company moved to a different location, then it would be easy :D

[Angel@heart]

http://img476.imageshack.us/img476/559/pipes12iv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
That would be cheating, but i would have done what CTNP did but i don't want to steal all the glory! :nana: