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To Catch a Thief
Some time back while in England | came across a
case in a criminal court. A man was being accused of
having stolen certain valuable jewels and trying to run
away with them, when he was caught by a smart police
officer who overtook him.
In cross examination the lawyer for accused asked
the police officer how he could catch up with the
accused who was already twenty seven steps ahead of
him, when he started to run after him. ‘Yes sir,’ the
officer replied. ‘He takes eight steps to every five of mine.”
‘But then officer’. interrogated the lawyer, ~how
did you ever catch him, if that was the case?’
‘That’s easily explained sir,’ replied the officer, ‘I
have got a longer stride... two steps“of mine are equal
to his five. So the number of steps | required were
fewer than his, and this brought me to the spot where
I captured him.’
A member of the jury, who was particularly good
at quick calculations did some checking and figured
out the number of steps the police officer must have
taken.
Can you also find out how many steps the officer
needed to catch up with the thief?
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