//------------------------------// // The Answer 27 // Story: Life is a Test: A Series of Pony Logic Puzzles // by Brony_of_Brody //------------------------------// Some of you may have worked out that you should purchase one large engine, three medium engines plus the fuel and three tuneup kits, to spend exactly 1000 bits and shave off 42.5 seconds off the time. Sounds good - if you wanted to get to the finish line the FASTEST for your money. But that isn't what the question is asking. We want to know how best to spend this money so the CMC can get to the finish line FIRST. How is that not the same? Think about it. Purchasing the above is possible - but it leaves enough engines, fuel and tune-up kits for an opponent to make the same purchase (or better, if they have enough money for it) and you'll have lost your advantage. What they actually need to do is purchase two large engines (800 bits and 30 seconds), one medium engine (140 bits and 5 seconds), and all of the fuel available (60 bits). That'll only shave off 35 seconds, but by hogging all the fuel to themselves, the CMC ensure that everypony else can only, at best, purchase a large engine and four tune-up kits to shave off 30 seconds, so they'll win the race by at least 5 seconds. Rarity wouldn't approve of the sheer greed on display, but what they hay, right?