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Topic: 4 prisoners, 2 black hats and 2 white hats (Read 2288 times) |
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cool_jansen
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4 prisoners, 2 black hats and 2 white hats
« on: Dec 13th, 2007, 7:36pm » |
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There were 4 prisoners, separated into 2 cells. 3 prisoners in one cell, 1 in the other. 4 hats were placed on the head of each prisoners, 2 black hats and 2 white hats. The 3 prisoners in the 1st room were arranged to form one line such that a prisoner could only see the colours of the hat(s) of the prisoner(s) in front of them (obviously, the most front prisoner couldn't see anything).
The prisoners were given one minute to tell the colour of their own hats. If one of them could tell the colour correctly, all of them would be freed. but if he answered wrongly, all of them would be shot to death. If after 1 minute, no answer was given, they would be shot to death as well.
Now, what happened was on the last second, one of the prisoners answered the colour of his hat correctly (it wasn't by luck), and the 4 prisoners 'lived happily ever after'  Which of the 4 was the saviour? And What was the colour of his hat?
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mikedagr8
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A rich man is one who is content; not wealthy.
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Re: 4 prisoners, 2 black hats and 2 white hats
« Reply #1 on: Dec 14th, 2007, 12:17am » |
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I was told this riddle only a few days ago. Luckily, I was correct in my reasoning.
The middle person screamed out his hat colour
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He can see the person in front of him, and the person behind can see both him and the very front person.
He knows that the person in front and him have opposite colours as the back person would have screamed out the answer. So hence the middle person knows his own hat, which is the opposite of the person in front of him.
He also waits to the last moment to make sure.
I hope that is clear.
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| « Last Edit: Dec 14th, 2007, 12:19am by mikedagr8 » |
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"It's not that I'm correct, it's that you're just not correct, and so; I am right." - M.P.E.
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