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Smart prisoners always get a break (Posted on 2002-08-27) Difficulty: 4 of 5
100 prisoners are put into solitary cells. There's a central living room with one light bulb; the bulb is initially off. No prisoner can see the light bulb from his or her own cell. Every day, the warden picks a prisoner at random, and that prisoner goes to the central living room. While there, the prisoner can toggle the bulb if he or she wishes. Also, the prisoner has the option of asserting the claim that all 100 prisoners have been to the living room. If this assertion is false (that is, some prisoners still haven't been to the living room), all 100 prisoners will be shot for their stupidity. However, if it is indeed true, all prisoners are set free and inducted into MENSA, since the world can always use more smart people. Thus, the assertion should only be made if the prisoner is 100% certain of its validity.

The prisoners are allowed to get together one night, to discuss a plan. What plan should they agree on, so that eventually, someone will make a correct assertion?

(From http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/riddles/intro.shtml)

See The Solution Submitted by levik    
Rating: 4.3636 (11 votes)

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
GamesCodyDunning2023-08-07 06:26:40
Magic thingsCodyDunning2023-07-05 08:05:37
Magical tipsCodyDunning2023-06-15 08:33:12
SolutionPuzzle ThoughtsK Sengupta2022-09-19 04:02:04
Smart prisoners always get a breakWhia19672022-09-19 03:38:24
Solutionmy solution, hope everyone likes it ;-)vivek2008-06-10 19:36:08
Smart prisoners always get a break 2axf2007-02-12 09:47:00
re(3): This seems really easy...Gamer2007-01-15 14:06:53
re(2): This seems stupidly easy...thegnome542006-06-04 16:50:28
re: This seems stupidly easy...Vernon Lewis2006-02-09 18:03:20
This seems stupidly easy...thegnome542006-02-09 16:00:40
SolutionNo SubjectBryson2005-12-16 11:02:39
Another solutionRajal2004-08-04 14:47:56
Possibly ...Lawrence2003-09-01 10:10:51
SolutionPossible solutionDacre2003-08-29 12:25:18
re: My solutionGamer2003-06-25 03:14:52
SolutionMy solutionragnar2003-01-22 10:41:04
Somthing about dividing the prisoners in half...Matt2002-08-28 05:35:39
re(4): An impractical solution...TomM2002-08-28 00:40:38
re(4): An impractical solution...levik2002-08-27 17:39:41
i know this is wrongKristina2002-08-27 15:18:11
re(3): An impractical solution...Jim Lyon2002-08-27 10:54:44
re(2): An impractical solution...levik2002-08-27 09:26:28
re(3): An impractical solution...levik2002-08-27 09:24:57
re: An impractical solution...Jim Lyon2002-08-27 09:03:29
re(2): An impractical solution...friedlinguini2002-08-27 08:37:38
Questionre: An impractical solution...levik2002-08-27 08:27:46
SolutionAn impractical solution...friedlinguini2002-08-27 06:15:44
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