Upsetter's tree

[sea horse]

In the middle of the Desert Island there's a papaya tree with the most succulent and sensually delicious fruit. The Upsetter, however, has laid claim to it and erected 7 fences around it. In each fence there is a gate, at which stands one of Upsetter's flunkeys. When Upsetter's lounging in the beach bar writing his (b)log, these flunkeys have orders from him not to let anyone through.

You however, like all islanders, being of daring and enterprising nature, have approached the first guard and made an agreement: if on your return journey when you reach his gate you give him half the papayas you have, he'll let you in and later out again and also give you back one of the papayas you've given him. As you progress through the enclosed area, you then make the same agreement with each other guard.

How many papayas do you need to collect to ensure that when you have passed all the guards, you'll still have at least one papaya each for you and your monkey?

[Nurse Duckett]

17[/size][/b]


Easy.

[Captain Nudnick]

42?

[Crusoe]

I don’t think these flunkeys (or are they monkeys?) are very bright. It strikes me that I only need to get two papayas and the poor old flunkeys give me back everything I give them.

(PS: that is a picture of Upsetter tucking into the papaya, isn’t it?)

[Pooka]

Yes, I've arrived at 2 as well, without reading your explanation, Crusoe.
(Determined to exercise my accountancy skills, you know.)



You enter into each gate once, collect 2 papayas, give half of the collection on your way out, which is 1, and you receive the '1' back. So you'll end up with one for you and one for your flunky monkey.

Although, you'd have to eat the papayas before entering the next gate, otherwise the guards may know you've already been through and upset the Papayan Kingdom. And remember to take a box of 14 12 mints with you, just in case you're given a papayalizer test.

[Naberius]

Upsetter has a blog? I didn't even know you Brits knew what a blog was.

Or at least that's what they said on the wire...

www.breitbart.com/news/2005/09/28/MTFH03372_2005-09-28_14-05-02_HAR756025.html

Cute monkey, though. Looks a bit like me mate, Tumbi. I wonder where that blasted little monkey has run to now, speaking of the little devil.