I'm posting one puzzle, riddle, math, or statistical problem a day. Try to answer each one and post your answers in the comments section. I'll post the answer the next day. Even if you have the same answer as someone else, feel free to put up your answer, too!
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Save yourself
A prisoner is told "If you tell a lie we will hang you; if you tell the truth we will shoot you."
What can he say to save himself? Note that he must say something to save himself.
"Lets just break up this madness and eat some cake" (everybody likes cake). After everyone eats cake they will forget the whole thing and let him go. After all, he suggested eating cake.
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Wouldn't any truth work?
ReplyDeleteHe should say "Puzzle of the Day is awesome!" or he could say "If I tell the truth I will live and if I tell a lie you will kill me".
ReplyDeleteWait - i misunderstood the question - erase that.
ReplyDeleteHe could say "You are going to hang me"
ReplyDeleteThen they can't hang him because he told the truth and they can't shoot him because then he would be telling a lie?
"I will be hung".
ReplyDeleteOR
"Lets just break up this madness and eat some cake" (everybody likes cake). After everyone eats cake they will forget the whole thing and let him go. After all, he suggested eating cake.
He shoud say: you will hang me.
ReplyDeleteI don't think any truth will work, jon: any other truth will get him shot, unless I'm missing something?
Cake sounds good. You're making me hungry.
I like anonymous's answer best, however! :-) I don't think I'll erase it.
Wait, that was me missing something. Duh.
ReplyDelete