Concept:The five consecutive distances between dustbins form a closed cycle. Adding the two-gap and three-gap distances for all five starting points gives bounds on the total circumference.
Explanation:Let
x1,x2,…,x5 be the five consecutive distances between dustbins, measured in steps. Indices are taken cyclically, so
x6=x1.
The total circumference is
C=x1+x2+x3+x4+x5 steps.
To reach every second dustbin, the distance is the sum of two consecutive gaps:
xi+xi+1.
Since the minimum such distance is 800 steps, every two-gap distance is at least 800:
xi+xi+1≥800Summing these five inequalities gives:
2C≥5×800=4000So
C≥2000 steps.
Similarly, to reach every third dustbin, the distance is the sum of three consecutive gaps:
xi+xi+1+xi+2.
Since the maximum such distance is