Support for Car Talk is provided by:

The Puzzler

Doing the Math on the Ever-Slowing Drive

RAY: You're driving your car on the highway at 75 mph, and you notice a sign that says you are 75 miles from your destination. So if you continue driving at that speed, you'd be there in an hour.

But, you're not going to do that, because then it wouldn't be a puzzler. When you have driven one mile and you are now 74 miles from your destination, you drop your speed down to 74 mph.

So, you drive that first mile at 75 mph; when you are 74 miles from your destination, you drop your speed down to 74 mph; and then 73 mph, 72 mphÂ… and so on. Until, finally, you get down to 1 mile from your destination and you're driving at one mile per hour.

And the question is, if you do this, how long is it going to take you to travel the entire 75 miles?

I made this puzzler multiple choice, with four choices:

1st choice: approximately 2 hours.
2nd choice: approximately 5 hours.
3rd choice: approximately 8 hours
4th choice: approximately forever.

Think you know? Drop Ray a note!

[ Car Talk Puzzler ]

Search Car Talk
GO
Actual lines from resumes; our body's MPG; So, which brother is gambling?
Meet Car Talk's latest winner — one of the few, the proud, the recently-bathed mechanics.
What did cause Jean's Porsche to mysteriously start? Find out.
Get the lowdown on tidying up your car, both inside and out.
Watch this week's episodes from our new animated TV series, and find local listings.
What happens when you donate your car? Well....