Three missionaries and three cannibals are on one side of the river, wanting to get across.

Unfortunately, the only boat available can hold a maximum of two people. The missionaries, wanting to stay safe, can never be on a side with more cannibals than missionaries (even for a moment!). The boat cannot travel under its own power, so there must be at least one person on board for it to cross.

How can the missionaries get safely across?

MMMCCC                      ------

MMMC                           CC

MMMCC                         C

MMM                              CCC

MMMC                            CC

MC                                 CCMM

MMCC                             MC

CC                                 MMMC

CCC                               MMM

C                                    MMMCC

CM                                 MMCC

----                                MMMCCC

 

Posted by salil on 2006-02-20 05:49:20