Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site asgb.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!bmcg!asgb!sjk From: sjk@asgb.UUCP Newsgroups: net.puzzle Subject: Re: A puzzle with two answers?!? Message-ID: <576@asgb.UUCP> Date: Wed, 14-Nov-84 11:36:47 EST Article-I.D.: asgb.576 Posted: Wed Nov 14 11:36:47 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 16-Nov-84 04:44:07 EST Organization: Burroughs Corporation, Boulder Colo. Lines: 41 Reference: <4@decwrl.UUCP> -Subject: Figure me this... -Posted: Wed Nov 7 09:49:36 1984 - -As the first tribesman begins to speak, a wave breaks on the -nearby reef and drowns out his voice. Then you hear the -second say 'The first one said he is short and he is, and so -am I". The third one says 'The second one is lying, he is -tall and I am short'. - - -Ken Hollis > ======================================================================== > > Case 2: > If the second person is tall, then the first person must also be tall > since the second person said that the first person is short and the > second person MUST lie. Therefore, the third person must be telling the > truth since he said that the second person was lying (and the second was > indeed lying). Therefore, in this situation, the other answer is that > the first is tall, the second is tall, and the third is short. > > > Todd Schoeller. The reason this puzzle only has one answer requires careful analysis of the second tribesman's statement. If he were indeed a total liar, he would have heard the first tribesmans statement ("I am short", assuming that he is tall and therefore a liar) and inverted the statement. Thus, if he were a liar, he would have said "The first one said he is tall, but he is not, and neither am I." Therefore scenario 2 is incorrect and the only solution is short, short, tall. Scott J. Kamin ucbvax \ Burroughs Corp. ihnp4 \ Advanced Systems Group decvax - sdcsvax\ 6655 Lookout Rd. dcdwest / > bmcg!asgb!sjk Boulder, CO 80301 akgua / cepu / (303) 530-3905