The company that Jack works for just finished a new product. They wanted to promote it across the country. Jack was asked to travel by car to each of the 48 contiguous U.S. states to promote the product. He was told that he could visit each state in whatever order he chose, but the company wanted him to start in Delaware, at their headquarters.

They asked that he visit each state only once. He could not go back into a state he had already visited-this was the "Don't Look Back" product tour. So, Jack sat down at his desk and began to plan his trip.

He realized immediately that it was going to be one long car trip. At that moment, his boss stopped by and said, "Hey, I'm going to join you when you reach your last state. I was born there and I've been looking for a reason to go back and visit. You can leave your rental car there, and I'll fly you back in my private jet."

Since Jack hadn't planned his trip yet, how did his boss know which state was going to be Jack's last state? And, which state would that be?

 


Solution to the Problem:

The boss met Jack in Maine.
Maine is the one state that borders only one other state.
Maine only borders New Hampshire and, of course, Canada.
So, Jack must end his trip in Maine.

Click here for a map of Jack's tour.


Correctly solved by:

1. Charles Washington Winchester, Virginia
2. Mike Singer Winchester, Virginia
3. John Funk Ventura, California
4. Jim Arrison Norristown, Pennsylvania
5. Keith Mealy Cincinnati, Ohio
6. Walt Arrison Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
7. William Proffitt Winchester, Virginia
8. Kate Hofstra Winchester, Virginia
9. Irene Mathieu Winchester, Virginia
10. Daniel Surber Winchester, Virginia
11. Dashiell Waugh-Quasebarth Winchester, Virginia
12. Jamie Lum Winchester, Virginia
13. Trey Mason Winchester, Virginia
14. Jason Storer Winchester, Virginia
15. Rob Adams Winchester, Virginia
16. Chris Rogers Winchester, Virginia
17. Larry Schwartz Trumbull, Connecticut
18. Bill Funk San Antonio, Texas
19. Tyler Carroll Winchester, Virginia
20. Nick Mulcahy Winchester, Virginia
21. James Alarie University of Michigan -- Flint,
Flint, Michigan
22. Misty Carlisle Winchester, Virginia
23. Jeanette Crawford Columbus, Georgia
24. Cameron S. Columbus, Georgia
25. Jeffrey Gaither Winchester, Virginia
26. Alex McIntire Columbus, Georgia
27. Rebecca Crawford Columbus, Georgia
28. Libba Richardson ----------
29. Molly Simkins Columbus, Georgia
30. Samantha Badcock Columbus, Georgia
31. Mrs. Frerk's AP Calculus Class,
      Green Bay East H.S.
Green Bay, Wisconsin