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The White Knight who couldn't quite remember (Posted on 2004-04-06) Difficulty: 4 of 5
The White Knight was recounting the story of one of the trials he had recently attended:

“Ah yes, it was a fine trial. Let’s see if I can remember it… If I recall there were three defendants. Each of them made one statement accusing one of the others, I think, but I’m afraid I can’t remember who accused whom. Can you work out who was guilty?”

“Of course not!” you reply. “You haven’t told me anything yet! Could you at least tell me who lied and who told the truth?”

“Hmmm... Interesting that you should ask that. When I was describing the trial to the Red King he asked me the same question. When I told him the answer, he worked it out. Unfortunately I’ve now quite forgotten what I said.”

“Well, I guess it’s hopeless for me then…” you sigh.

“Interesting that you should say that, too. When I was describing the trial to Humpty Dumpty he asked me the same question, and when I told him I had forgotten what I told the Red King, he too claimed to be at a loss. But then he asked me another question, I can't quite remember what, but when I told him the answer he was able to solve it. I think he either asked me whether two consecutive statements were true, or whether two consecutive statements were false. Unfortunately I can neither remember which one he asked, nor what I answered. I think I’ve given you quite enough information now though, so tell me: who was guilty?”

    Adapted from Raymond Smullyan's Alice in Puzzleland

See The Solution Submitted by Sam    
Rating: 4.3846 (13 votes)

Comments: ( Back to comment list | You must be logged in to post comments.)
re(6): Through the looking glass...... | Comment 9 of 14 |
(In reply to re(5): Through the looking glass...... by Benjamin J. Ladd)

As Ben says, nothing hinges on whether or not innocent people may or may not lie. The first part - the Red King - tells you exactly what you need to know about who lied and who told the truth.


  Posted by Sam on 2004-04-08 00:48:54
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