"Share The Walk; Share The Ride!"
You and I have to travel from Startville to Endville, but we have
only one bicycle between us. So we decide to leapfrog: We’ll leave
Startville at the same time, you walking and I riding. I’ll ride for 1
mile, and then I’ll leave the bicycle at the side of the road and
continue on foot. When you reach the bicycle you’ll ride it for 1 mile,
passing me at some point, then leave the bicycle and continue walking. And
so on — we’ll continue in this way until we’ve both reached the
destination.
Will this save any time?
You say yes: Each of us is riding for part of the distance, and riding is faster than walking, so using the bike must increase our average speed.
I say no: One or the other of us is always walking; ultimately every inch of the distance between Startville and Endville is traversed by someone on foot. So the total time is unchanged — leapfrogging with the bike is no better than walking the whole distance on foot.
Who’s right?
Look who is right in the case!
Will this save any time?
You say yes: Each of us is riding for part of the distance, and riding is faster than walking, so using the bike must increase our average speed.
I say no: One or the other of us is always walking; ultimately every inch of the distance between Startville and Endville is traversed by someone on foot. So the total time is unchanged — leapfrogging with the bike is no better than walking the whole distance on foot.
Who’s right?
Look who is right in the case!
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