Old Tricks
No. 015 · FRIDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 2026 · NUMBERS · ●●●○○

The two ferries

A wide river seen from above the water. Two small ferries sail towards each other from opposite banks, leaving white wakes behind them. Docks, trees and a few waiting passengers stand on each bank.

Two electric ferries cross a wide river. They leave opposite banks at exactly the same moment, each at its own steady speed. They pass each other 720 metres from the north bank.

Each ferry waits 10 minutes at the far bank to load passengers, then heads back.

On the way back they pass each other again, this time 400 metres from the south bank.

How wide is the river, in metres?

Type a number of metres.