I'll give this a stab. Let's call the shortest man 1, the middle man 2 and the tall man 3.We know that #1 and #2 are not both wearing white hats, because if they were then #3 must be wearing a black hat and #3 would know it (because there are only 2 white hats).
It then follows that #1 and #2 must be wearing some combination of: #1 white and #2 black #1 black and #2 white #1 black and #2 blackIf #2 knows that #1's hat is white, then #2 knows that his own hat must be black, because otherwise it would have been white and #3 would have known the color of his hat.
Since #2 didn't know the color of his hat this alternative isn't possible.Since the remaining alternatives both have #1 with a black hat, we now know the reasoning and the color.
Cheers, Jake----- Original Message ----- From: "Chela Robles" <cdrobles693@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2008 8:04 PM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Logic Puzzles, Brain Teasers, and Riddles
Hello all, I know I'm behind the times with email but I'm trying to catch up, now that I have stable internet connection, I have a puzzle for you all to solve, that is, if any of you can solve it, my sister, Brittnee, is a senior in high school taking algebra 2, and wanted me to help her with this puzzle, however I'm stumped, and this has been a very interesting 24 hours minus sleep time and church, to think of how to solve it, so here it goes. Black And White Hats Cannibals ambush a safari in the jungle and capture three men. The cannibals give the men a single chance to escape uneaten. The captives are lined up in order of height, and are tied to stakes. The man in the rear can see the backs of his two friends, the man in the middle can see the back the man in front, and the man in front cannot see anyone. The cannibals show the men five hats. Three of the hats are black and two of the hats are white. Blindfolds are then placed over each man's eyes and a hat is placed on each man's head. The two hats left over are hidden. The blindfolds are then removed and it is said to the men that if one of them can guess what color hat he is wearing they can all leave unharmed. The man in the rear who can see both of his friends' hats but not his own says, "I don't know". The middle man who can see the hat of the man in front, but not his own says, "I don't know". The front man who cannot see ANYBODY'S hat says "I know!" How did he know the color of his hat and what color was it? On 8/12/08, Bob <rwiley@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:Hi Jim. The only book I can think of is "are you smarter than a fifth grader?" that is in the collection. However, you can check out http://www.braingle.com./ This is a site with all sorts of brain teasers and puzzles.I especially like the fractured phrases section. It presents garbled phrases that, once straightened out, are well known sayings. I used to use this whenteaching folks to cut and paste on the computer. It made a boring subject more tolerable. Check it out. Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: <james.homme@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 6:52 AM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Logic Puzzles, Brain Teasers, and RiddlesHi, A couple of years ago now, my best friend passed away. His little girl really likes this sort of thing. Do we have any books in the collectionwith this kind of stuff, or fun facts or trivia that might interest people who are somewhere around nine years old? I'd like to read it and have funwith her when I see her. She is so quiet. I never know what she's thinking, and I'd like to help her if she needs it. Thanks. Jim James D Homme, Usability Engineering, Highmark Inc., james.homme@xxxxxxxxxxxx, 412-544-1810 "The difference between those who get what they wish for and those who don't is action. Therefore, every action you take is a complete success,regardless of the results." -- Jerrold Mundis Highmark internal only: For usability and accessibility: http://highwire.highmark.com/sites/iwov/hwt093/ To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a listof available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.-- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG.Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.6.0/1603 - Release Date: 8/10/20086:13 PMTo unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxput the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list ofavailable commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.-- Chela E-Mail: cdrobles693@xxxxxxxxx WindowsLiveMessenger Only (PLEASE E-Mail ME BEFORE ADDING ME TO YOUR CONTACTS!): cdrobles693@xxxxxxxxxxx Blog: http://www.1jtcdr.wordpress.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=690550695 (PLEASE E-MAIL ME BEFORE I EITHER ADD OR REJECT YOUR FACEBOOK REQUESTS!) MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/chelarobles (AGAIN, PLEASE E-MAIL ME BEFORE YOUR REQUEST IS IETHER REJECTED OR ACCEPTED!) Skype: jazzytrumpet (E-Mail ME ABOUT ADDING YOU ONTO MY SKYPE CONTACTS BEFORE I GIVE A CONFIRMATION Of YES OR NO!)Mobile Phone: (925) 250-5955 (ONLY FOR THOSE WHO WORK WITH ME, OR WHO KNOW ME)To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxput the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.-- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG.Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.6.4/1616 - Release Date: 8/16/2008 5:12 PM
To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.