Author Topic: Riddle (Read 451 times)

BlckMgk · « **on:** November 03, 2004, 11:36:16 AM »

3 Inmates have a chance to go free if they guess what color hat they have on their head.

The warden has 5 Hats: 3 Red , 2 Whites.

They are all blindfolded, and the hats placed on their head. One at a time their blindfolds are removed, they're allowed to look around.

First Inmate: Says he can't tell
Second Inmate: Says he can't tell
Third Inmate: Says he knows and guesses right. (he's blind)

How did the Third inmate know?

-BM

AKIron · « **Reply #1 on:** November 03, 2004, 11:44:24 AM »

I know the answer but will give others a chance to answer.

Ripper29 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 03, 2004, 11:51:04 AM »

Color is only a perception of human sense (vision, through wavelengths of light that our brain in turn perceives and creates color) so if he said colorless he would have been correct on any account.

BlckMgk · « **Reply #3 on:** November 03, 2004, 03:17:41 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKIron
I know the answer but will give others a chance to answer.

Sooo whatcha got? I don't know this one yet.

TweetyBird · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2004, 03:30:15 PM »

Well the first couldn't tell because the two blindfolded guys didn't have the two white hats (if they did - he would just guess red)...

now take if from there

(not bad for an idiot eh?)

Edit (I assume the two sighted convicts can see what hats are left)

Edit2: If the first two convicts are idiots (can't ccount) all bets are off

Edit 3 - forget edit 1 and two

AKIron · « **Reply #5 on:** November 03, 2004, 03:52:15 PM »

Here ya go:

BTW, there are some details relevant and I'll toss 'em in.

They are all in earshot of one another. They can all see each other's hats but not their own, except the blind guy of course.

The warden asks the first guy, he says, "I don't know". Both the other two guys hear this. The warden asks the second guy. He knows the first guy saw either a white/white, red/white, or white/red but not red/red. He looks at the blind guy and does not see red. If this guy (second guy) had seen red on the blidn guys head he would have known that his own had to be white. Therefore, since the second guy did not know what color his own hat was the blind guys cannot be red. The blind guy heard both say they didn't know and reasoned this for himself and concluded that his own could not be red therefore it must be white.

AKIron · « **Reply #6 on:** November 03, 2004, 03:57:22 PM »

I just reread your post about the blindfolds. I think you got that part wrong. There's no way for them to know except for as how I restated it. Never mind, reread it again. Same principle as the way I heard it before. You can use the blindfolds, still works.

Samiam · « **Reply #7 on:** November 03, 2004, 04:24:50 PM »

You confuse me AKIron. Here's simple explanation:

First guy would have to see white/white to know that he was wearing Red. Since he didn't know that he was wearing red, the other two know that they do not both have white hats.

Second guy then knows that if the third guy is wearing white, then he himself must have red. If third guy is not wearing white, he cannot determine his own color.

Without being unblindfolded, the 3rd guy knows that because the second guy can't determine his own color, he himself cannot be wearing white.

Darkish · « **Reply #8 on:** November 03, 2004, 04:27:13 PM »

Right....

Blind con therefor knows he's got a red hat on - can't be any other way if the first 2 guys don't know.

Bah! pipped at the post

TweetyBird · « **Reply #9 on:** November 03, 2004, 04:39:28 PM »

Why couldn't they have

Red Red White?

oooo never mind - i see. Good one

AKIron · « **Reply #10 on:** November 03, 2004, 05:40:26 PM »

It's simple when you see it. It all hinges on the fact that the second guy could not have seen a red hat on the third guys head and that is what the third guy needed to know, nothing else matters. Why could guy 3 not have had a red hat? If guy 3's hat was red then guy 2 would have known his own was white and would have told the warden. Why? 'Cause guy 1 did not see two red hats. Since guy 2 did not have the answer, he did not see red on guy 3's head. That's all guy 3 needs to know, that guy 2 did not see red on guy 3's head. Got it?

TweetyBird · « **Reply #11 on:** November 03, 2004, 06:56:47 PM »

Now if convict one and convict two are dummies, convict 3 is up the creek without a paddle

deSelys · « **Reply #12 on:** November 04, 2004, 07:29:52 AM »

Iron you are confusing people with your explanation because you've read the first post wrong: it's 2 whites and 3 reds.

Your explanation is correct for 3 whites and 2 reds.

AKIron · « **Reply #13 on:** November 04, 2004, 09:31:39 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by deSelys
Iron you are confusing people with your explanation because you've read the first post wrong: it's 2 whites and 3 reds.

Your explanation is correct for 3 whites and 2 reds.

You're right. I've known that riddle for years and just couldn't see past my own familiarity with it. Just substitute white/red. Apologies

deSelys · « **Reply #14 on:** November 04, 2004, 09:41:43 AM »

np

. Nicely explained tho!