Story Problem

So I realized the other day I do use story problems in every day life. This story problem came to mind as I was loading up my kids in the car, getting them out again, and then back up stairs. I realized I live this story problem.

The farmer wants to get his goat, wolf and cabbage to the other side of the river. His boat isn't very big and it can only carry him and either his goat, his wolf or his cabbage. Now.....if he leaves the goat alone with the cabbage, the goat will gobble up the cabbage. If he leaves the wolf alone with the goat, the wolf will gobble up the goat. When the farmer is present, the goat and cabbage are safe from being gobbled up by their predators.

How does the farmer manage to get everything safely to the other side of the river?

Answer

The farmer must first take the goat across the river. He then returns and picks up the wolf. He leaves the wolf off and takes the goat back across the river with him. Then he leaves the goat at the starting point and takes the cabbage over to where the wolf is. He returns and picks up the goat, and then lands where the wolf and the cabbage are.