A logician invites 6 of his logician friends to help him celebrate his birthday. Each of the 6 guests is wearing a hat which is either red, yellow, or blue, and the logician host informs them all that there is at least 1 of each color. After they eat the cake, the host stands up and exclaims there is a special party prize for the first person who can deduce what color hat is on their head. The party guests all looked around the room at each other but no one claimed the prize immediately. Suddenly all 6 guests stood up and correctly identify what color hat was on their head.

What were the colors of their hats and how did they know?

(In reply to re: how about this? --yet another... by Tristan)

Tristan,
Ok, I think the lights are starting to come on...
The only possible combinations to represent each color at least once are either:
4, 1, 1
3, 2, 1
or
2, 2, 2
In any case where the wearer is the only wearer of that particular color, you would have an immediate response.
The clue of the pause indicates there was not only 1 of any color, hence the only remaining option of 2, 2, 2.
Thanks!
Jen.
Edited on November 19, 2004, 8:17 pm
Edited on November 23, 2004, 12:17 am

Posted by jmnw on 2004-11-19 20:15:39