3QUESTION 3 OF 3
Answer & explanation
The official answer, with Fermi’s reasoning step by step.
Answer & explanation
Official answer
88
skips
How to estimate it
Fermi’s official “Napkin math”
Start with the best skip you've ever seen, maybe 20 bounces. How much better is the world's best thrower than the best skipper at your lake? A lot better. Call it 4 times.
- Best skip you've seen
- ~20
- World-class thrower
- × 4
- 20 × 4
- ≈ 80
Rounded assumptions may give a slightly different estimate. The official answer above is the game’s reference value.
Source calculation & reference
- Russell Byars, Franklin, PA (2007)
- 51
- Max Steiner, Franklin, PA
- 65
- Kurt Steiner, Red Bridge, PA (Sept 6, 2013)
- = 88
Reference cited by Fermi: Guinness World Records, most skips of a skimming stone (Kurt Steiner, 2013)
How close was your guess?
Your comparison will appear here.
Compare by ratio: divide the larger number by the smaller one. The closer to 1×, the better.