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        riddles >> hard >> Path to the Castle
        
(Message started by: Vernon Castle Tyler III on Feb 20^th, 2004, 2:49pm)

Title: Path to the Castle
Post by Vernon Castle Tyler III on Feb 20^th, 2004, 2:49pm

You are in a maze and you come to a wall with 2 doors and you must choose witch one leads to the end of the maze.
On door one their is a top and a bottom living creature; and on door number two their is a top and bottom living creature as well. The two bottom creatures say to you that you may ask only one question to one of the top creatures, but be warned that one of them always tells the truth and the other one always lies. Now witch question should you ask to get the door that leads to the end of the maze?
btw-1. You may not ask the bottom creatures any questions.
btw-2. Your question can not have 2 questions.

Title: Re: Path to the Castle
Post by rmsgrey on Feb 20^th, 2004, 4:25pm

It doesn't matter what I pick, Jareth has the whole thing rigged from the start, but as long as I refuse to give up he has to let me win in the end.

"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the goblin city, for my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom as great. You have no power over me." - Labyrinth

Otherwise, the Fork In The Road (http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=riddles_hard;action=display;num=1027807082) riddles already cover this one and several variants (using the Forum search facility or manually looking at old threads in the Hard forum should turn most of them up)

[e]fixed link[/e]

Title: Re: Path to the Castle
Post by Earendil on Mar 11^th, 2004, 7:44am

Is it possible to solve this problem not knowing if the bottom creatures lie or not? :D~

Title: Re: Path to the Castle
Post by Speaker on Mar 15^th, 2004, 4:47pm

If the bottom creatures are telling the truth or lying does not matter. (I think)

The question you ask the top creatures must give you the same answer whether the creature lies or does not lie.

So, if the bottom creatures are lying, then what? Both top creatures tell the truth? both top creatures lie? the top creatures will answer more than one question? The top creatures will answer not questions.

Maybe you should ask the bottom creatures which door to take.

Title: Re: Path to the Castle
Post by BNC on Mar 15^th, 2004, 11:52pm

But if the bottom-creatured are lying, it may be that the top-creatures are neither true-tellers nor lie-tellers. Rather, they may "regular" creatures that tell whatever they like, be it true or false.

Title: Re: Path to the Castle
Post by Speaker on Mar 16^th, 2004, 12:12am

What kind of limits does that give us? If all the creatures speak with variable truth values, then what can we do? Are they also lying about how many questions we can ask?

If you tell me which door leads out, then I will use my magic power to free you from your door-prison and you can join me in my quest for the Holy Pail. ::)

(I am lying about my magic powers, but they don't know that)

Title: Re: Path to the Castle
Post by Earendil on Mar 16^th, 2004, 10:10am

haha, yeah, didnt make much sense :P I was just looking for somethjing wich could make this problem different from the other one

Title: Re: Path to the Castle
Post by Speaker on Mar 16^th, 2004, 5:20pm

Maybe you could do something like; One of the bottom dwelling creatures always lies and one always tells the truth.

You are allowed to ask them one question.

The top dwelling creatures will lie if the bottom creature tells the truth. Also, if the bottom creature tells a lie, the top creature will tell the truth.

You can ask them one question.

So, you get a total of two questions. But, there needs to be something more. What do you think?