I've seen this problem several times expressed using camels and bananas [1] I would also think it's related to the rocket equation - with each iteration of "gr

I've seen this problem several times expressed using camels and bananas [1] I would also think it's related to the rocket equation - with each iteration of "grab bananas, turn around" you have fewer bananas to carry with you, but it forms a parabolic curve as you need many bananas at the start of the desert, fewer as you go onwards and don't need to make trips to retrieve the bananas you've already eaten. [1]http://www.crazyforcode.com/camel-bananas-puzzle/ http://www.crazyforcode.com/camel-bananas-puzzle/