The Man and the Dog : Solution

The following facts will give the reader clues to the general solution. The distance remaining to be walked side by side with the dog was 81 feet, the fourth power of 3 (for the dog returned four times), and the distance to the end of the road was 625 feet, the fourth power of 5. Then the difference between the speeds (in miles per hour) of man and dog (that is, 12) and the sum of the speeds (20) must be in the same ratio, 3 to 5, as is the case.