You have 3 people with you. You know that one always tells the truth, and one always tells lies, and the other one strictly alternates telling lies and truths.

You are going to serve dinner, but ask who likes strawberries, and who doesn't. Their answers are as follows:

A: C never has told a lie.
I like strawberries.

B: A has never told the truth
I don't like strawberries

C: I always lie.
I don't like strawberries.

Who likes strawberries, and who doesn't?

If C always lies, then he is currently telling the truth -- impossible
If C always tells truths, then he is currently lying -- impossible
The only other option is that C alternates between Ts and Ls.
A says that C never lies, which is a lie, making A the liar.
B must be the teller of truths.

Clarification:
Does C alternate Ts and Ls by sentence? I would assume so because that is the easiest way to distinguish alternates. In addition, it would not be pointed out that one alternates, if it did not pertain to the problem. So, Cs first sentence is a lie, his second must be the truth.

Solution: No one likes strawberries.

Posted by Hank on 2003-04-10 08:35:07