Prisoners and a Lightbulb II
posted by Petter
- May 27 2009 11:30:44 AM
This riddle uses the same setting as the original riddle with the 100 prisoners being brought out to the lobby one at a time. Every day, one prisoner is brought out in the lobby.
When a prisoner is brought out to the lobby, he also has the option of saying "Every other prisoner has been brought out to the lobby." If a prisoner chooses to say this and it is true, all the prisoners will go free. However, if a prisoner chooses to say this and it's wrong, all the prisoners will be executed. So a prisoner should only say this if he knows it is true for sure.
As opposed to the original prison, the warden in this prison likes to save energy. there is one important difference: if the light bulb is switched on at the end of the day, the warden sometimes turns it off to save energy. He does not always do this, but he does it completely at random and independently of anything else.
What strategy could the prisoners use to ensure their eventual salvation?
When a prisoner is brought out to the lobby, he also has the option of saying "Every other prisoner has been brought out to the lobby." If a prisoner chooses to say this and it is true, all the prisoners will go free. However, if a prisoner chooses to say this and it's wrong, all the prisoners will be executed. So a prisoner should only say this if he knows it is true for sure.
As opposed to the original prison, the warden in this prison likes to save energy. there is one important difference: if the light bulb is switched on at the end of the day, the warden sometimes turns it off to save energy. He does not always do this, but he does it completely at random and independently of anything else.
What strategy could the prisoners use to ensure their eventual salvation?
Reply by admin
- May 27 2009 08:10:48 PM
Ok this looks hard...my favorite kind of riddle! I'm going to give this a shot but I bet it will take me a few days...
Reply by Cluekoo
- June 04 2009 03:12:33 PM
Here's an idea:
[hide]Each prisoner, upon entering the lobby for the first time, leaves behind an artifact decided upon by the group. A piece of cloth from their prison garb, say. Once a prisoner enters and counts 100 pieces, he can be sure they've all been there.[/hide]
[hide]Each prisoner, upon entering the lobby for the first time, leaves behind an artifact decided upon by the group. A piece of cloth from their prison garb, say. Once a prisoner enters and counts 100 pieces, he can be sure they've all been there.[/hide]
Reply by Petter
- June 18 2009 12:29:39 PM
No, the only thing they can do in the lobby is changing the light switch.
Reply by Sifat
- October 19 2009 11:19:40 PM
Please post the reply
To post a response, simply log in with your Google Account.
