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Probability and Cumulative Dice Sums

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Solving a Math Puzzle using Physics

The following math problem, which appeared on a Scottish maths paper, has been making the internet rounds.


The first two parts require students to interpret the meaning of the components of the formula \(T(x) = 5 \sqrt{36+x^2} + 4(20-x) \), and the final "challenge" component involves finding the minimum of \( T(x) \) over \( 0 \leq x \leq 20 \). Usually this would require a differentiation, but if you know Snell's law you can write down the solution almost immediately. People normally think of Snell's law in the context of light and optics, but it's really a statement about least time across media permitting different velocities.


One way to phrase Snell's law is that least travel time is achieved when \[ \frac{\sin{\theta_1}}{\sin{\theta_2}} = \frac{v_1}{v_2},\] where \( \theta_1, \theta_2\) are the angles to the normal and \(v_1, v_2\) are the travel velocities in the two media.

In our puzzle the crocodile has an implied travel velocity of 1/5 in the water and 1/4 on land. Furthermore, the crocodile travels along the riverbank once it hits land, so \( \theta_2 = 90^{\circ}\) and \(\sin{\theta_2} = 1\). Snell's law now says that the path of least time satisfies \[ \sin{\theta_1} = \frac{x}{\sqrt{36+x^2}} = \frac{4}{5},\] giving us \( 25x^2 = 16x^2 + 24^2\). Solving, \( 3^2 x^2 = 24^2, x^2 = 8^2\) and the solution is \(x = 8\).

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