Saw this problem at http://gurmeetsingh.wordpress.com/puzzles/
A man is trapped atop a building 200m high. He has with him a rope 150m long. There is a hook at the top where he stands. Looking down, he notices that midway between him and the ground, at a height of 100m, there is a ledge with another hook. In his pocket lies a Swiss knife. Hmm… how might he be able to come down using the rope, the two hooks and the Swiss knife
One reply on “Descending 200 meters with a 150 meter rope”
I think what they are suggesting the person do is cut the rope into a 50 meter segment and a 100 meter segment. I did not bother to look at their answer. This one works.
Tie off the 50 meter segment to the top hook and tie a loop in the other end. Then tie the 100 meter segment into a loop that runs through the loop in the end of the 50 meter segment. This creates a 100 meter section of rope to get him to the first plateau. Then untie the 100 meter loop and tie it to the second loop. This gets you to the ground.