Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/153 - A Military Puzzle

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $153$

A Military Puzzle

An officer wished to form his men into $12$ rows, with $11$ men in every row,

so that he could place himself at a point that would be equidistant from every row.

"But there are only one hundred and twenty of us, sir," said one of the men.

Was it possible to carry out the order?

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Arithmetical and Algebraical Problems: Various Arithmetical and Algebraical Problems: $153$. -- A Military Puzzle
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Geometrical Problems: Triangle, Square & Other Polygon Puzzles: $266$. A Military Puzzle