I'm posting one puzzle, riddle, math, or statistical problem a day. Try to answer each one and post your answers in the comments section. I'll post the answer the next day. Even if you have the same answer as someone else, feel free to put up your answer, too!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
This is a trick question
Your neighbor has four apple trees in his yard. How many kinds of apples could he be growing?
I would hope that he dosn't have the apples growing on himself! Except maybe an Adam's Apple. =p
Seriously though. With four trees and some splicing of limbs, you could concievably grow every type of apple imaginable if he is great at tree pruning and the like.
As Karnov and Jon said: You can't know. Apple trees are grafted. A branch from one tree is attached to a new tree. That way you know what kind of apple you will get from a new tree. Since you can graft several different kinds of apples to a a new tree, you can't guess as to how many kinds of apples your neighbor is growing.
I didn't know that about the crab apple. Interesting.
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I would hope that he dosn't have the apples growing on himself! Except maybe an Adam's Apple. =p
ReplyDeleteSeriously though. With four trees and some splicing of limbs, you could concievably grow every type of apple imaginable if he is great at tree pruning and the like.
I was always under the impression you needed two trees of the same type to have them produce apples, so I am going to say 2.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Karnov. I guess that he can grow as many types of apples as there are types of apples with splicing.
ReplyDeleteCross pollenation too! He could start creating new trees and types of apple. Supposedly the original apple is the crab apple.
ReplyDeleteAs Karnov and Jon said: You can't know. Apple trees are grafted. A branch from one tree is attached to a new tree. That way you know what kind of apple you will get from a new tree. Since you can graft several different kinds of apples to a a new tree, you can't guess as to how many kinds of apples your neighbor is growing.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that about the crab apple. Interesting.