Funny Prison Riddle

basilmarket.com forums : Chat | 15 posts archived

thread starter jkgangster Mar 06 2010 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Just something I found. Can anyone answer this? The governor of a prison is bored. He decides to amuse himself by playing a game with the prisoners. He sets up a room with two switches in it. Each switch has 2 positions (on and off ). He tells the prisoners that he is going to send them to the room one at a time and that they have to move exactly one of the switches each time they visit. He is free to send them in whatever order he likes and can send them as often as he likes (perhaps sending one prisoner 100 times before sending some other prisoner, then sending the first one again...anything!). The only promise that he makes is that if any prisoner picks a number (X) and waits long enough, they can be sure to visit the room (X) times. The prisoners are kept in solitary and are unable to communicate once the game has started. They will never know how many other prisoners have visited the room since they were last there. They are also not told what the initial position of the switches was. The governor tells them that if at any stage a prisoner comes to him and states correctly that all prisoners have now visited the room at least once, all of the prisoners will be freed. But if a false claim is made, they will all be shot. The night before the game begins the prisoners meet in a large room to discuss their tactics. Do they have a strategy that ensures they will win their freedom?

My Characters: joshkatris - 84 Scania Aran in Misery

iholasmio 03/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Tricky. off to the Internet!

My Characters: Lakoz - 94 Bera Hermit

vietsaga 03/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] iholasmio : Tricky. off to the Internet! [/quote] Aren't you technically already on the Internet?

My Characters: Vietzskill - 149 Bera Bishop

iholasmio 03/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] vietsaga : Aren't you technically already on the Internet? [/quote] Off to google!

My Characters: Lakoz - 94 Bera Hermit

Logic 03/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

This is actually a tough riddle. Give me a bit to think about it.

My Characters: Moiarity - 161 Scania Corsair

mutatie + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

They can scratch between te switch how many times it has been turned. And on a other part of the wall the can scratch how many different people have been inside. Like if u go 100x times u only scratch ones and not 100 times EDIT: long live internet Easy. One prisoner is designated as the "caller." He and only he will make the determination of when everyone's been in the room. Whenever he sees that the left-hand switch is "down," he will move it "up" and add 1 to his count; otherwise, he will flip the right-hand switch and not think anything of it. When the other prisoners enter the room, they have a different strategy. If the left-hand switch is "up," they will switch it "down," but they will only do this the first two times they encounter the left-hand switch "up." If they've moved the left switch twice already, or if the left-hand switch is "down," they will flip the right-hand switch. When the caller's count is twice the number of prisoners plus one, each prisoner must have been in the room at least once, regardless of the initial configuration of the switches. URL: http://able2know.org/topic/96779-1

My Characters: mutapirate - 130 Broa Buccaneer

boyslikeboys 03/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

One prisoner is designated as the "caller." He and only he will make the determination of when everyone's been in the room. Whenever he sees that the left-hand switch is "down," he will move it "up" and add 1 to his count; otherwise, he will flip the right-hand switch and not think anything of it. When the other prisoners enter the room, they have a different strategy. If the left-hand switch is "up," they will switch it "down," but they will only do this the first two times they encounter the left-hand switch "up." If they've moved the left switch twice already, or if the left-hand switch is "down," they will flip the right-hand switch. When the caller's count is twice the number of prisoners plus one, each prisoner must have been in the room at least once, regardless of the initial configuration of the switches.

My Characters: xBabyRae - 163 Bellocan Bishop

Logic 03/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Could they tap the wall on what position the light switch starts. One knock = Up, Two knocks for down. And then give a minute break, then flip the switch and knock for whatever position its in.

My Characters: Moiarity - 161 Scania Corsair

vietsaga 03/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] mutatie : EDIT: long live internet [/quote] Rofl. I kinda liked your original answer. More creative, less confusing XD

My Characters: Vietzskill - 149 Bera Bishop

ShiningDarkness 03/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] boyslikeboys : One prisoner is designated as the "caller." He and only he will make the determination of when everyone's been in the room. Whenever he sees that the left-hand switch is "down," he will move it "up" and add 1 to his count; otherwise, he will flip the right-hand switch and not think anything of it. When the other prisoners enter the room, they have a different strategy. If the left-hand switch is "up," they will switch it "down," but they will only do this the first two times they encounter the left-hand switch "up." If they've moved the left switch twice already, or if the left-hand switch is "down," they will flip the right-hand switch. When the caller's count is twice the number of prisoners plus one, each prisoner must have been in the room at least once, regardless of the initial configuration of the switches. [/quote] Trying to take the credit? Site your source next time. The guy above you just posted that with siting the source. Idiot.

My Characters: ShiningDark - 9 Broa Magician

Cross 03/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Wow, this seems like something that would be in Liar Game

My Characters: 6thTimeCharm - 75 Scania Chief Bandit

Cheezzydude 03/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

I'm so confused >_< But please don't try explaining to me. I'll just get more confused -.-

My Characters: Cheezzy4ever - 104 Windia Priest

Hangook + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

They tell the governor they pressed it but they just jump him and he dies then there free.

My Characters: PirateCIan - 34 Scania Gunslinger

Flameclouds 03/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

if there are no guards if question, why don't the prisoners just kill the governor?

My Characters: Flameclouds - 88 Windia F/P Mage

JtotheEsus 03/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

They all defecate in a secluded spot in the room. And when there's [# of people minus 1] poopz on the ground, then the person who counts that number is the last person? :D

My Characters: MahalKeytaw - 42 Yellonde Aran in Memory