Sunday, March 9, 2008

Math Extra Credit #1

Recently, a group of people have been studying lines for climbing trails. These people from the University of Washington have discovered when climbing a mountain, zig-zagged trails are more efficient than straight trails. Their reasoning was that if you "traverse" the mountain, you become less tired, and you have a better shot at making it up the full way, even though it's longer. They also say that if you attack the mountain with a straight trail, for it to be easy you'd have to find the exact angle to make it easier on you, and that could take a really long time.

For more information go to:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080220130507.htm

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